Quoz Arts Fest 2024 | Still From Here by Phi Studio

In the installation Still from Here, PHI Studio harnesses the knowledge possessed by the nomadic Bedouins, who developed means of wayfinding and protection in some of the most difficult living environments. PHI Studio’s work comprises two main elements: first, an illuminated circle that forms both a literal and metaphorical division in the ground. The nomads used to draw these circles in the sand to mark their sleeping area and to create a ditch to protect them from snakes and scorpions. The second component is the lit scepter, which was used as both a walking stick and a sort of compass. Before the traveler slept, he or she would point the stick in the direction of their travels the next day. The two tools allowed the Bedouins to secure their surroundings in terms of presence and direction.

This work was commissioned for the Noor Riyadh Light Festival