Farah Al Qasimi's installation, 'Homesickness,' illustrates the deep connection between Gulf communities and the sea. By using iridescent oyster shells, she creates a sonic environment reflecting the historical practice of pearl diving. The art piece features embedded speakers playing a five-channel composition inspired by 'Tob, Tob Ya Bahar,' a song sung by women awaiting the return of divers. This installation is part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, which aims to articulate cultural and economic ties to the marine environment within the Emirates.
'Homesickness honors the tradition of pearl diving that has influenced the economic and cultural landscape of the Emirates,' the Emirati artist tells designboom.
The speakers embedded into each of the pearls emit a soothing five-channel composition that captures songs of yearning, reimagining a traditional chant sung by the wives of pearl divers.
It begins with a simple harmony of five individual voices that gradually and gently morph into a more synthetic, spatial chorus, evoking 'fog, buoys bobbing on the tide, and call-and-response chants.'
Positioned by the shoreline, each of the oversized sculptures reflects the ocean's cultural and economic significance that resonate across the Gulf, speaking to both personal and collective histories.
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