With Omar Darwish
Ages 17+
In English
What happens when photographs, prints, maps and everyday communication, such as brand logos and road signage, are treated not as documentation but as evidence?
Delve into archival research to unearth overlooked details and recurring motifs that exist beyond the intended subject of an image or document. As you explore different types of records—from digital archives, newspapers and maps to graphic design elements in everyday landscapes—make a note of the words, symbols, textures and spatial clues that capture your attention.
Then embark on an outdoor field exercise. Examine your surroundings for contemporary traces, visual echoes and unexpected connections related to your earlier research observations. Take photos of what you find.
After the excursion, exchange images with other participants, and discuss your archival findings. Construct a narrative to interpret another participant’s materials in your own way. Draw on one or more approaches to storytelling, including annotation, mapping, writing, collage and sound. Do not seek definitive answers. Let your creativity take you in many directions as you refine your analytical and associative observation skills.
This session is free, and all materials are provided.
Sharjah Art Foundation is committed to making its programmes inclusive and accessible. You can arrange for any support needed through the registration form.
For more information, email learning@sharjahart.org, or call (06) 544 4113.
About Omar Darwish
Omar Darwish is an architect and researcher whose practice explores the overlooked landscapes, infrastructures, and everyday objects that shape life across the Arab world. Working through research, drawing, exhibitions, and storytelling, he uncovers how ordinary built environments reveal broader histories of memory, governance, and cultural identity.
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