London: The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the London Design Biennale 2025, which runs until June 29. Oman's contribution is represented by Haitham Al Busafi's creative artwork Memory Grid, which won the prize for best design at the international exhibition.
The participation supports the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth's efforts to promote Omani culture internationally and transform Oman’s cultural landscape into a hub of creativity and cultural diversity, in accordance with the Cultural Strategy 2021–2040's executive plan.
Ibrahim Saif Bani Oraba, Assistant Director General of Arts, stressed that the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth has refined its vision through ambitious plans to establish Oman as a global leader in many cultural sectors. This is based on the foundations of Oman Vision 2040 and the Cultural Strategy, which provides a strategic framework for the country's cultural activities.
Through its involvement in the London Design Biennale 2025, the Ministry guaranteed a unique presence in every way, including a critical role for Omani youth on this worldwide stage. Engineer and designer Haitham Al Busafi was chosen to create the artwork, while Zawraq Group, a youth-led small and medium enterprise, was designated as the pavilion's evaluator. This demonstrates the Ministry's dedication to empowering Omani youngsters and expresses unwavering trust in their contributions to cultural work.
Eng. Haitham Al Busafi felt immense pride and appreciation upon being honored with the Best Design Award for Memory Grid as Oman’s representative at the London Design Biennale 2025. He referred to the occasion as a "historic milestone" for Oman, reflecting the country's heritage and modern vision, where tradition meets innovation.
He described Memory Network as an immersive installation made up of clear, machinecrafted copies of standard Omani pottery arranged in a configuration reminiscent of a data centre. This clarity functions as a deliberate metaphor for the digital age's fragility and vulnerability, in which preserving memories frequently incurs a high cost in privacy. He emphasized that the work is not just a static exhibition, but also a living archive, inviting visitors to add their own data and memories to create a shared legacy.
Meanwhile, Za'eema Al Adawi remarked that choosing Zawraq Group as the artistic evaluator was both an opportunity and a tool for youth empowerment, allowing for their representation at this important artistic forum.
