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A TALE OF TWO SEAS

October 16 - October 22 ,2025
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Gulf Weekly A TALE OF TWO SEAS
Gulf Weekly A TALE OF TWO SEAS
Gulf Weekly A TALE OF TWO SEAS
Gulf Weekly A TALE OF TWO SEAS
Gulf Weekly A TALE OF TWO SEAS

Bahrain concluded its six-month participation this week at the international Expo 2025 in Osaka, which drew 25 million visitors from around the world.

The Bahrain Pavilion  created memorable multisensory experiences for a plethora of patrons.

“After six months of fostering cultural and civilisational connections with Japan and the world, Bahrain concluded its participation at Expo 2025 Osaka, closing the final chapter of its ‘Connecting Seas’ Pavilion - a space that offered visitors a unique and inspiring experience, presenting Bahrain’s culture, heritage, and achievements in historical and contemporary contexts,” a representative from the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) explained.

It received the Gold Award for Best Architecture and Landscape in the self-built pavilions under 1,500 square metres category, as part of the Official Participant Awards presented by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

Baca, which organised Bahrain’s participation, transformed the pavilion into a multi-layered journey, combining architecture inspired by traditional Bahraini dhows with immersive sensory experiences that engaged all five senses.

The pavilion also featured a café blending Bahraini and Japanese flavours, a dedicated exhibition highlighting Bahrain’s economic future, and a gift shop offering design items inspired by local heritage.

Award-winning Bahraini chef Tala Bashmi was the culinary director of the café and crafted a seasonal menu including items like machboos with seabass fillet, chilled tomato salad in tahini dressing with daqoos-spiced croutons and fig halwa ice cream.

The pavilion was included amongst the ‘Top 10 Must-Visit Pavilions’, according to the global architecture platform ArchDaily, and received wide acclaim from leading publications such as Wallpaper and Azure Magazine, which praised it as a model of sustainable architecture and contemporary cultural vision.

Architecture was one of the defining features of Bahrain’s participation. Designed by Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh, its form drew inspiration from traditional Bahraini dhows, reinterpreting their construction techniques through Japanese wood artistry.

Covering an area of 995sqm and rising to 13.7m across four levels overlooking the sea, the structure was built primarily from wood and relied on natural ventilation systems, making it one of the most sustainable buildings at the expo, according to Baca.

Visitors embarked on a multi-sensory journey through the
 pavilion’s exhibitions.
Shepherd Studio designed the interior displays, while artist and researcher Sissel Tolaas created ‘Connecting Seas: Smell Libraries’.

Bahraini artist and researcher Hassan Hujairi produced a sound installation inspired by Fjiri music, titled Pearling Legacies: An Audio-Sensory Experience.

These experiences were distributed across the pavilion’s four levels and included displays of traditional boat models, Dilmun seals, archival photographs, handicraft tools, and traditional swords, alongside exhibits representing Bahrain’s modern industries such as aluminium and fibreglass.

Among the highlights was the ‘Two Seas’ Formula 1 helmet, worn by McLaren driver Oscar Piastri during the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.

A dedicated exhibition, curated by the Economic Development Board, showcased Bahrain’s strategic position as a global economic hub with an investor-friendly environment.

Staff and volunteers wore exclusive uniforms designed by Bahraini fashion designer Lulwa Al Amin, featuring artistic prints and embroidery inspired by maritime motifs.

The experience was completed by a gift shop showcasing exclusive contemporary products inspired by Bahrain’s local heritage.

The pavilion celebrated its National Day on September 18, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, through a four-day programme held from September 17 to 20.

The celebrations shared Bahrain’s cultural message with Expo visitors through music and diverse artistic experiences, featuring performances by the Bahrain Police Band under the Grand Ring and the main concert ‘Bahrain’s Music Across Time’, blending traditional and modern Bahraini music.

The concert included performances by Qalali Folk Band, Noor Al Qassim, Abdulrahman Awadh, Abdulla Haji, and Mohammed Aseeri, under the artistic direction of Bahraini maestro Ziad Zaiman.

The programme also featured Twenty Years Later, a musical performance by Hasan Hujairi and Kawol Samarqandi.

 







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