‘Ayn: ع’ is a two-wall open walkway lined with serial planes that act as a barrier between opposing sides of the structure. The installation was a part of Sikka Art Fair 2015, which took place in the Fahidi Heritage district of Dubai.

The concept is derived from 'Ayn Al Hasud' (The Evil Eye), which refers to the gaze of one person to another in a negative manner. It is both a physical experience as well as a psychological phenomenon, revolving around the idea that we are susceptible to causing affliction through jealousy, admiration or envy. The form is designed as an experience to reveal and conceal members as they move through it. This controlled condition allows the duality of being protected and exposed to the Evil Eye.

The form of this walkway stems from both the Arabic letter ‘ayn’ and an eye (the Arabic word for eye is also ’ayn’). In Arabic calligraphy, the letter form changes depending on its position in a word; when is at the beginning or end of a word, its shape is open and receptive. When it is in the middle of a word, it closes its open counter in order to protect itself from other letter forms, mimicking the behavior of an eye.

The structure was designed and manipulated three dimensionally using Maya and Rhino. The walkway itself was laser cut in plywood, and assembled on-site by my partner and myself over the span of three days. 

This project was designed in collaboration with graphic designer Sarah Alagroobi.