An assemblage of hung pottery plates, 2023

Developed as part of my mentorship program with Nujoom Al Ghanem

Selection exhibiting in the group show SEEN/SCENE IV: Wherein the Work Was Declared Finished and the Work Began, curated by Gaith Abdulla @ Rizq Art Initiative, 2026.

Hessa Al Ajmani’s “Drink Your Medicine” ceramics series inspired me to imprint my memories of my family gardens into clay. This project was my first time working with clay, and it continued to cement for me the importance of working with my hands to process my understanding of my relationship with the garden, and in turn, understanding my familial history.

With this series of works, I envisioned a “family photo gallery” wall, but in place of photographs of family members, events, and gatherings, it is an herbarium in clay, “portraits” of different trees and plants in the garden, side by side, preserved with the same love as that of a family.

Images courtesy of Ilinca Marinescu

teta's herbarium of memories or herbarium in clay