We were never on a deserted island

This experimental workshop approaches stitching as a performative act of unity, restoration, and belonging. Grounded in the principles of cultural sustainability, the research-driven sessions invite participants to explore the intertwined histories of the materials that have long shaped the socio-economic and symbolic fabric of this region.

Through collective inquiry, tactile experimentation, and reflective making, the workshop becomes a space for reweaving memory, meaning, and connection. Together, we will consider the material and metaphorical resonances of fabrics and weavings, engaging in stitching as a gesture of repair, relationality, and archival practice.

Sessions will be held in both English and Arabic.

Haytham Sharrouf (b. 1990, Venezuela) is a Lebanese multidisciplinary artist based between Lebanon and Doha. He holds a BA in Interior Design and Space Planning (2015), a BA in Graphics (2016), and an MBA in Design, with a focus on cultural sustainability and the role of museums and cultural foundations. His practice explores childhood, vulnerability, and the cultural narratives of the Levant and Gulf regions, crafting compelling visual stories that bridge past and present.

Haytham’s work has been featured at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and the Doha Film Institute. Notably, his solo exhibition ‘Pearlo’ at the Fire Station in Doha examined pain and transformation through the metaphor of pearl formation. Through his vibrant practice, the artist invites viewers to reflect on the intricate layers of identity and memory, offering new ways of seeing cultural landscapes.