The Sultanate of Oman marks its debut at the London Design Biennale with Memory Grid. Designed by Omani Architect and designer Haitham Al Busafi, curated by Zawraq Collective.
With over 30 pavilions representing nations, cities or institutions, the three-week exhibition starting June 5 will feature curated installations accompanied by a programme of events, thought-leadership talks, performances and workshops. Curated by Zawraq Collective and commissioned by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the pavilion represents the ideas of memory, value and preservation in a rapidly evolving world.
For millennia, pottery in Oman has been more than craft—it has been a lifeline. Water vessels represented the Sultanate's most precious resource and embodied what Omani society valued most: survival, community connection, and their relationship with the environment. In our modern day, data— memories, knowledge, and digital identities—has become the most precious resource.
"Memory Grid" examines this evolution of value by reimagining traditional vessels through a contemporary lens. By arranging transparent interpretations of Omani pottery in a grid formation reminiscent of data centers, Haitham has created a visual meditation on how societies determine what's worth safeguarding across generations.
"Memory Grid" transforms visitors from observers to participants by inviting them to contribute their own memories to the installation. This collaborative approach mirrors how digital legacy functions today—not as isolated individual efforts, but as networked repositories of human experience.
When someone adds their memory to the grid, they actively participate in legacy-building, becoming part of a living archive that explores what contemporary society deems valuable enough to preserve. This participation raises essential questions: What memories do we consider precious enough to share? What aspects of ourselves do we wish to project into the future? What parts of our identity do we believe will have meaning for generations to come?
For more information on the pavilion and themes of the exhibition, visit londondesignbiennale.com
About Haitham Al Busafi
Haitham is a highly experienced architect and media professional with over 12 years in the field. He holds an M.Arch degree from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where he honed his skills under the mentorship of architects like Zaha Hadid, Kazuyo Sejima and Hani Rashid.
Haitham’s work seamlessly blends physical and virtual spaces, using advanced design techniques and virtual reality. He is also the founder of Beyond.xyz, a leading virtual production technology company in Saudi Arabia, dedicated to revolutionizing the content creation process by merging technology with emotions.
About Zawraq Collective
Founded by Noor Al Mahrooqi and Zaima Al Adawi. Zawraq Collective is a collective of two women in Muscat, Oman, focused on supporting and promoting local artists. They aim to create a space for the youth to express their talents, challenge conventional notions of art, and shape what art can be with a particular focus on fostering a vibrant and creative community.
The collective’s name “Zawraq” refers to a small Omani fishing boat, symbolizing their role in carrying artists forward and highlighting their resilience and versatility.