Bayt al-Mahar
Bayt al-Mahar is a nomadic gathering space by artist Megan Cope, bringing together community, storytelling, and hands-on participation around the shared histories of the sea and pearl oysters. These sessions will allow individuals to directly contribute to the artwork that Megan Cope is making for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi where each individual pearl oyster shell cleaned will be used in the sculptural artwork.
Bayt al-Mahar is a dynamic program of talks, workshops, and film screenings that celebrate architecture, art, and cultural heritage. Highlights include talks with leading artists and architects, exploring creative practices, contemporary design, and socially engaged art.
Hands-on workshops, such as the Marine Crafts Workshop with Abu Jasem, allow participants to engage with traditional crafts and heritage techniques.
The film program features a diverse selection of international and regional cinema, from documentaries and animations to classic storytelling, often accompanied by Q&A sessions with experts. This agenda offers a rich and immersive experience, connecting participants with creativity, culture, and artistic expression.
Agenda
Day 1 - Tuesday 13 Jan
Scrub Club – 16:00 to 18:45
Image credit: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Scrub Club is an essential part of the Bayt al-Mahar which engages the community in the process of the communal practice of care and cleaning the pearl oyster. These sessions will allow individuals to directly contribute to the artwork that Megan Cope is making for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi where each individual pearl oyster shell cleaned will be used in the sculptural artwork.
Designing Bayt al-Mahar talk – 19:00 to 19:45
Image credit: Taha Baageel©
A talk exploring the architectural vision behind Bayt al-Mahar, led by THIRD SPACE* Studio founders Abdullah Alamoudi and Mohsin Ali, examining design, cultural narratives, and the concept of “third space” in contemporary architecture.
Il mondo perduto (Film screening) – 20:00 to 21:00
Credit©
Cineteca di Bologna
The Film Foundation
A curated screening of Vittorio De Seta’s poetic documentaries capturing the lives, rituals, and maritime traditions of Sicilian fishermen, offering a rare anthropological portrait of communities shaped by the sea.
Rating: PG | Year: 1954–59 | Genre: Documentary | Country: Italy | Language: Italian dialogue with English subtitles | Directed by: Vittorio De Seta | Duration: 48 min
Day 2 – Wednesday 14 Jan
Scrub Club – 16:00 to 18:45
Image credit: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Scrub Club is an essential part of the Bayt al-Mahar which engages the community in the process of the communal practice of care and cleaning the pearl oyster. These sessions will allow individuals to directly contribute to the artwork that Megan Cope is making for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi where each individual pearl oyster shell cleaned will be used in the sculptural artwork.
Artist Talk: Megan Cope in Conversation with Stephanie Rosenthal – 19:00 to 19:45
Image on the right - Megan Cope
Credit©
APW Artist Fellowship Program_ Megan Cope at APW_photo Tim Carrafa courtesy NGV & APW
Image on the left - Stephanie Rosenthal
Credit©
Ron John
An in-depth conversation exploring Megan Cope’s socially engaged art practice, Indigenous stewardship, and land-based works, moderated by Dr. Stephanie Rosenthal, Director of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project, appointed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
Becoming Cousteau (Film screening) – 20:00 to 22:00
Credit©
National Geographic, Documentary Films,
Story Syndicate,
ACE Content
A powerful documentary by Liz Garbus that traces the life and legacy of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, exploring his groundbreaking ocean explorations, environmental advocacy, and lasting impact on global conservation.
Year: 2021 | Directed by: Liz Garbus | Country: United States | Language: French & English dialogue with English subtitles | Genre: Documentary | Rating: PG13 | Duration: 93 min
Day 3 – Thursday 15 Jan
Scrub Club – 16:00 to 19:15
Image credit: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Scrub Club is an essential part of the Bayt al-Mahar which engages the community in the process of the communal practice of care and cleaning the pearl oyster. These sessions will allow individuals to directly contribute to the artwork that Megan Cope is making for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi where each individual pearl oyster shell cleaned will be used in the sculptural artwork.
Marine Crafts Workshop: Al-Dīn (Traditional Pearl Diving Net) – 16:30 to 19:45
Credit
©Abeer Seikaly
A hands-on workshop led by Abu Jasem, introducing participants to the making of al-dīn, the traditional net used by pearl divers, exploring its materials, knotting techniques, and cultural significance through guided practice.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Film screening) – 20:00 to 22:00
Credit©
Touchstone Pictures,
American Empirical Pictures
A visually distinctive adventure by Wes Anderson, following oceanographer Steve Zissou on a quirky sea voyage that humorously pays homage to Jacques Cousteau while blending comedy, drama, and exploration.
Year: 2004 | Directed by: Wes Anderson | Country: United States | Language: English dialogue | Genre: Comedy, Drama, Adventure | Rating: PG-15 | Duration: 118 min
Day 4 – Friday 16 Jan
Scrub Club – 16:00 to 19:15
Image credit: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Scrub Club is an essential part of the Bayt al-Mahar which engages the community in the process of the communal practice of care and cleaning the pearl oyster. These sessions will allow individuals to directly contribute to the artwork that Megan Cope is making for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi where each individual pearl oyster shell cleaned will be used in the sculptural artwork.
Marine Crafts Workshop: Al-Dīn (Traditional Pearl Diving Net) – 16:30 to 19:45
Credit
©Abeer Seikaly
A hands-on workshop led by Abu Jasem, introducing participants to the making of al-dīn, the traditional net used by pearl divers, exploring its materials, knotting techniques, and cultural significance through guided practice.
The Red Turtle (Film screening) – 20:00 to 22:00
Credit©
Wild Bunch, Studio Ghibli, Why Not Productions
A poetic, dialogue-free animated film by Michaël Dudok de Wit that tells a moving story of survival, love, and the human life cycle through the relationship between a man and a mysterious red turtle.
Year: 2016 | Directed by: Michaël Dudok de Wit | Country: France, Japan | Language: No dialogue | Genre: Animation, Drama, Family | Rating: PG | Duration: 80 min
Day 5 – Saturday 17 Jan
Scrub Club – 16:00 to 19:15
Image credit: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Scrub Club is an essential part of the Bayt al-Mahar which engages the community in the process of the communal practice of care and cleaning the pearl oyster. These sessions will allow individuals to directly contribute to the artwork that Megan Cope is making for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi where each individual pearl oyster shell cleaned will be used in the sculptural artwork.
Talk & Q&A with Alia Yunis – 19:30 to 20:00
Credit
©Alia Yunis
Alia Yunis will introduce Bass Ya Bahar by Khaled Siddiq, drawing on conversations with the director and stories from behind the making of the film. Her introduction will touch on the extraordinary journey of bringing the first feature film of its kind in the region to life—its challenges, ambitions, and the cultural moment it emerged from—alongside its reception across the Arab world. Rather than a formal analysis, this talk sets the tone for the screening, offering audiences a way into the film that highlights the scale of effort, vision, and risk behind it, and inviting viewers to watch it with fresh eyes and a deeper appreciation of what it took to exist at all.
Bass Ya Bahar (Film screening) – 20:00 to 22:00
Credit©
Kuwait Cinema Company
Kuwait’s first feature film, directed by Khalid Al Siddiq, tells the story of a young man who becomes a pearl diver to overcome poverty and win the love of his life, capturing life in pre-oil Kuwait and the risks of the pearl-diving tradition.
Year: 1972 | Directed by: Khalid Al Siddiq | Country: Kuwait | Language: Arabic | Genre: Drama | Rating: PG16 | Duration: Approx. 108 min
Bayt al-Mahar is in collaboration with
The pearl oysters collected as part of the Bayt al-Mahar have been generously donated by the Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi for this commission.
