In a remarkable celebration of creativity and cultural preservation, NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), has announced the recipient of The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2025. This prestigious accolade, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, honors innovative contributions to the arts.
The thirteenth edition of this award has been bestowed upon Hannan Arshad, a talented UAE-based Indian artist and graphic designer. Under the mentorship of Christianna Bonin, Assistant Professor at the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), Arshad has been recognized for her project "Safekeeping Stories." Her work delves into storytelling through materials, fabrication, and historical research, focusing on political dialogue and cultural memory through various media, including installation, print, digital media, film, and photography.
Arshad's fascination with Mughal history and materiality was sparked during visits to the Raza Library in Rampur and the Bada Imambara in Lucknow. This interest evolved into her project "Safekeeping Stories" during her senior studio with Assistant Professor Amparo Baquerizas Carreras at AUS. The project has since grown to include larger sculptural and architectural elements, reimagining the past as a tactile, participatory experience.
The project "Safekeeping Stories" is an interactive art installation that seeks to preserve Mughal architectural and cultural knowledge. Arshad recreates traditional Lakhori bricks using nearly-forgotten Mughal techniques, incorporating edible materials. Each brick is etched with her interpretation of Mughal miniature paintings, transforming these historical building blocks into a medium for visual and written archiving. The bricks are arranged to resemble a library, inviting viewers to engage with history by physically removing each "book" from the structure.
Driven by the urgent need to protect cultural heritage from political and environmental threats, the project underscores the contemporary relevance of historic building practices. Arshad plans to expand the installation and collaborate with communities in the UAE and beyond, using art to spark conversations around memory, identity, and preservation.
Celebrating Cultural Heritage
Her Excellency Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Abu Dhabi Festival, expressed her admiration for the project. She emphasized the importance of preserving cultural memory and heritage, celebrating tangible and intangible masterpieces from sculpture and architecture to customs, traditions, and values. By doing so, we inspire future generations and maintain a connection to our past while looking forward to the future.
H.E. congratulated Hannan Arshad on her achievement, commending her dedication to documenting the rich history of human civilizations and her efforts to revive endangered cultural and architectural knowledge through environmentally friendly building practices.
Art as a Bridge to the Past
"Safekeeping Stories" exemplifies the power of art to connect memory, place, and material tradition. At the NYUAD Art Gallery, there is a commitment to nurturing emerging artists through mentorship and resources that help bring ambitious ideas to life. This installation is a poignant response to cultural loss and a compelling example of how historical narratives can be reimagined through contemporary public art.
Emily Doherty, Director of The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, expressed her delight in welcoming Hannan Arshad as the 2025 winner. Despite strong competition among the shortlisted proposals, the Selection Committee was captivated by Arshad's beautiful and thoughtful work. With the support of the professional curatorial, technical, and logistics teams at the NYUAD Art Gallery, along with her mentor Dr. Christianna Bonin at AUS, Arshad is set to unveil "Safekeeping Stories" at the entrance to Abu Dhabi Art in November this year.
This year’s selection committee, which convened in Abu Dhabi, included esteemed members such as HE Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Maya Allison, Executive Director of The NYUAD Art Gallery and Chief Curator, Dyala Nusseibeh, Director of Abu Dhabi Art, Azza Al Qubaisi, Emirati Jewelry Artist, Product Designer and Sculptor, Awam Amkpa, Dean of Arts and Humanities and Professor of Drama, Social and Cultural Analysis at NYUAD, and guest juror Nadine Maalouf, Vice Chairwoman of Design Council Abu Dhabi and Advisory Committee Member of the NYUAD Art Gallery.
Since its inception in 2013, The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award has served as a launch pad for artists across the Emirates. It encourages the creation of new artwork and offers winners insight into professional life as an artist, from commission to exhibition. The program is open to UAE-based students and recent graduates, fostering a new generation of creative talent.