​​

United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia

​

The London Design Biennale took place in September at Sommerset House. The unifying theme was utopia and the exhibition was structured by countries' displays. 

​

Both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia had a common theme: as countries where draught is a constant/permanent threat, water management was the main preoccupation. Two very distinct approaches: Saudi Arabia posed the question of whether we could hold in our hands the last "unit" of water, and by having a gigantic capsule vending machine with units of water made of blue glass with the inscription "What if this was the last drop?"; the UAE displayed an irrigation system based in Al-Falajad, celebrating the ancient technique of canals that distribute water to communities close to oasis. 

​

Saudi's approach lead me to confront a situation that is imminent: that people will be dying of de-hydration due to the lack of access to water, either by draught or by corporate greed or habitat destruction. The questioning of a threat, the critique of a critical situation transported me to an apocalyptical place where all I could see was murder and the hopeless wish that something could have been done about it when it was possible. 

​

UAE's approach was to revive old techniques and practices, which asserted the value of tradition. Time is of essence and we must trust the evolution of human technologies before the frenzied obsessed world of consumption. Trust was the predominant feeling with this installation and an aethetic bliss, as I enjoyed the architectural model style in which they displayed their ideas.