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A summer exhibition entitled Data/Humans is shining a bright spotlight on the co-existence of real and digital realms and the impact of the latter on our humanness.
The showcase by 21 Bahraini and international artists is being held at Al Riwaq Art Space in Gufool, as part of their residency programme, which attracted more than 130 applications spanning video, painting, photography, mixed media and sound installations.
The gallery’s junior curator, Shereen Fekri, prepared the concept and vision, which was then co-curated by other young talents in the curatorial studies group, under the guidance of Al Riwaq.
The exhibition explores the intricate and evolving relationship between the human and the digital – how data shapes our identities, influences our consciousness, and affects our capacity for consent and connection.
One of the participating international artists, Egyptian creative Bassam Nafady, is displaying Silent Witness – ‘a diptych that captures scenes of war and collapse, but focuses not on the destruction itself – rather, on those quietly observing it through their phones’.
“The work explores how we’ve grown detached from reality – witnessing tragedy through screens without truly engaging – and questions what happens to our sense of identity and morality when witnessing becomes a filtered, distant and ultimately powerless act,” Mr Nafady added.
Bahrain University professor and photographer Dr Hesham Alammal and architect and design specialist Fatima Almosawi, who first met at a photography workshop, have teamed up to present Vessels, a visual series depicting plates and bowls from different Bahraini households, including the artists’ families.
“These plates are unique because they have unique markings under them,” Fatima explained.
“This way people could trace the owners after sharing meals with friends and family. It’s kind of an analogue way of indexing, which we compared with machine-made memory,” the Bahraini creative added.
Dr Hesham, who specialises in data and technology, developed a machine-learning model that allows viewers to scan the vessels, which the software then classifies, based on algorithmic memory, thus juxtaposing the community’s collective memory with new models.
Media enthusiast Shoaib Mirza is taking part with a short film, which depicts the ‘grey nature’ of artificial intelligence (AI).
“We are socially engaged creatures, who believe in validation, belonging, fear of missing out... AI is useful for us in this way but, at the same time, it can be a burden for those who use it in the wrong way, like the characters in my film,” said the filmmaker who works in the fashion retail industry.
The film was shot in eight days, across various locations in Bahrain, and is currently being screened at the exhibition. Data/Humans will run at Al Riwaq until September 3.
Panel of artists
• Omnia Elrefaey
• Bassam Nafadi
• Turkey Alqahtani
• Thomas O’Connor
• Thanos Tsiousis
• Hayat Hasan
• Sarah Ysef
• Shazia Salam
• Sohaib Mirza
• Abbas Yousif
• Aisha Azab
• Fatima Almosawi
• Fai Ahmed
• Katerina Belkina
• Mac Andre Arboleda
• Mariam Alsadadi
• Michele Rinali
• Mona Almoataz
• Maitha Ali
• Narges Soleimanzadeh
• Dr Hesham Alammal
