Tahanan: an Interactive Art Installation on TCKs

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Tahanan is an interactive installation which emulates my workspace in Bahrain: my first home. I currently reside in the Philippines, which is significantly far from my home in the Middle East. The workspace is an assemblage of my “window” from Bahrain, my current work desk from the Philippines, and my two personal sketchbooks.

The installation as a whole tackles the TCK (third culture kid) experience of culture shock. I myself am a third culture kid, born outside my parents’ homeland, and remain as an amalgamation of two cultures. “Tahanan” explores the meaning of “home” in both the literal and the figurative sense through several personal accounts.

My ongoing search for belonging entices viewers of the work to participate in my sketchbook entries through physically writing on the work itself, thus introducing impermanence to the concept of “home”.

Original Pitch

In 2016, I was one of ten chosen fellows for the 6th Ateneo Heights Artists' Workshop (AHAW).

Each fellow had a designated mentor who would guide them throughout a two-day workshop in Antipolo. My mentor was Aldy Aguirre, an amazing watercolor artist from INK, who walked me through the critique session, panel discussions, and project pitch. The final output was a full-blown work to be shown at a week-long exhibit in the Ateneo de Manila University.

Final Interactive Installation

My final output turned out to be so much bigger than I expected and more ambitious than any artwork I've ever taken on. A massive installation featuring 60+ pages of sketchbook work, four canvas paintings, and a myriad of other minor pieces and sketchbooks for public viewing. I wanted to reach for newer heights through interactive installation to make the viewer experience more personal. The workshop and exhibit was a fruitful and constructive experience overall.