Blending textile, paint, and beadwork, Echoes of the Past captures the elemental confluence at the heart of Dubai—where sun meets shore, and history meets horizon. Inspired by the city’s dual identity as both desert and coastline, the piece reflects the radiant warmth of a setting sun merging with the deep, shifting hues of the ocean.

The use of copper-toned pearls pays tribute to Dubai’s rich legacy as a center of pearl diving, once the foundation of its coastal economy. Layers of color, wool, and material texture echo the rhythms of waves and dunes, evoking a sense of movement, memory, and transformation.

The circular format reinforces the cyclical nature of tides and time, referencing both natural rhythms and cultural continuity. Through this work, I reflect on Dubai’s remarkable evolution—from a humble pearl-diving village to a dynamic global metropolis—while honoring the ancestral waters and natural beauty that continue to shape its identity.

Echoes of the Past invites viewers to pause and reflect on what endures through change. It is both a tactile memory and a meditative space—one that bridges past and present through material, form, and emotion.