Sadu Association participates in 'Doha Design Biennale 2026' - Sarmad

The Kuwaiti Sadu Art Association participated in the Doha Design Biennale 2026 in the Qatari capital, Doha, attended by the association’s honorary president and patron, Sheikha Altaf Salem Al Sabah, and its board chairperson, Sheikha Bibi Duaij Al Jaber Al Sabah.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Friday, the association announced that it is participating in the biennale with the work “Sadu Muqarnas” by Kuwaiti artist and architect Ghadeer Mohammed.

The statement explained that the concept behind “Sadu Muqarnas” emerged from Ghadeer Mohammed’s participation in the Sadu for Art and Design (SADI) initiative, the first program of its kind in Kuwait, launched by the association to open new horizons for artists and designers to engage with Sadu heritage.

It noted that in this work, the engineering of traditional Sadu weaving meets the art of muqarnas in Islamic architecture, transforming familiar motifs into an immersive artistic experience that visitors can enter and walk through. “Sadu Muqarnas” takes the form of a dome inspired by the structure of muqarnas, with its sections adorned with patterns derived from Sadu engravings.

The statement highlighted that Ghadeer did not merely borrow these motifs as aesthetic elements, but reflected on the underlying regularity, repetition, and rhythm of the textile itself. She reconfigured these relationships into a three-dimensional work, moving Sadu from a woven surface to a surrounding space that reveals new aspects of its structure and symbolism as the viewer’s perspective changes.

The statement clarified that the work was designed using parametric modeling techniques and constructed using more than 4,000 aluminum tubes and 6,000 metal connectors shaped like the letter “T,” along with acrylic elements. The reflection of light on its metallic parts creates shadows and reflections that change with the movement of visitors, giving the dome a different appearance from each vantage point.

The work is presented by the Kuwaiti Sadu Association with support from the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and the Gulf Insurance Group.

Qatar Museums had previously announced the events of the second, expanded edition of the Doha Design Biennale 2026 exhibitions, held in the heart of Doha, running from November 5 to January 31.

The biennale features the launch of a large-scale exhibition program comprising more than 15 exhibitions and major public art commissions, alongside a rich schedule of activities. The 2026 edition is hosted in Fereej Al Mazrou, one of Doha’s most prominent heritage districts.

The Kuwaiti Sadu Association works to preserve, promote, and transmit Kuwait’s textile heritage to future generations, covering Sadu weaving in the desert and textile arts in the city. Based at the Sadu House, the association combines documentation, research, education, and cultural activities, encouraging artists and designers to draw inspiration from this heritage and offer contemporary interpretations.

In 2016, the association launched the Sadu for Art and Design (SADI) initiative, the first residency of its kind in Kuwait, allowing participants to delve deeply into the art of Sadu and explore its artistic and design potential.