Commissioned work with Capsule Arts

“Conversations through time”. Typographical sculptural installation for AlUla International Airport, KSA.

Ranim Halaky was commissioned by Capsule Arts to create a sculptural installation which would appear within the courtyard of the AlUla International Airport executive terminal. Halaky created a striking typographic piece in raw steel, titled “Conversations through time”. This piece gave special recognition to the current habitants of AlUla and previous civilisations that laid down the foundations for cultural significance.

Through a juxtaposition of the past and present, this installation is created using historical poetry that intersects with the current community’s words. In this way, the past continues to speak to the present, and so the conversation continues between the different generations of AlUla. This concept emerges from the welcoming words of the local community of AlUla, bridged with poems of Jamil Buthayna from a different era. 

The artist selected poems and phrases of Buthayna’s to become part of the installation as a representation of Words from the Past. These phrases are depicted in a debossed/engraved manner inside the core strokes of the piece, referring to documentation techniques from the past. The past, therefore, intrigues the viewer to read deeper into it, just like poetry does. 

The artist further interprets the past by taking the installation’s form and parameters from the old town of AlUla. Further, the different inside routes that cross each other are reflected in the top view plan and setting of the installation piece. These intersections act as a reference to the cultural crossroads that carry the conversations that could have once taken place in AlUla; conversations that are still alive with the new generations and were passed through oral communication as a welcoming message from one generation to the next. 

To represent the Present, a series of voice recordings were captured saying “Ahlan Wa Sahlan” and other welcoming messages and phrases unique to AlUla. These were spoken by the local community with their accents and pronunciations. Through the research process a select group of people came together of different genders and age groups to represent the community and its generations, as the aim was to engage the community in building the content of the work.

Through the use of steel in its natural, untreated form, the artist allows room for time to continue to play its role on the installed piece. The rustic formations on the steel and changes in colour and texture in time, will highlight its raw essence making it harmonious with the surroundings.

Ranim Al Halaky's installation — ‘Conversations through Time’ at AlUla International Airport — received a prestigious Wooden Pencil award from the D&AD for the best Environmental Typography.

Read more about the award here: D&AD Wooden Pencil Award