Midwan – The Palm Forest

Midwan – The Palm Forest (2024) by Saudi artist Abdulrahman Taha is a luminous sculptural installation that draws on the palm tree as a symbol of sustainability, heritage, and renewal. Rooted in historical memory and forward-thinking design, the work invites audiences to walk through a radiant forest of light, reflection, and cultural resonance.

The installation consists of seven towering pillars, each resembling the trunk of a palm tree—a reference to the traditional architecture of early mosques in Medina, the artist’s hometown, where palm trunks were used in place of columns. These vertical structures are covered in over 7,000 spinning tops, each functioning as an individual light fixture. When illuminated, they create a shifting, immersive environment that pulses with motion and meaning.

By using the palm as a central motif, Taha honors both its material legacy and its symbolic power. The tree stands as a representation of growth, resilience, and deep cultural roots—a visual metaphor for the ways in which tradition can support a sustainable future. The use of spinning tops, a humble childhood object transformed here into a sophisticated light source, reinforces the relationship between past and present, play and purpose, memory and innovation.

The title Midwan, drawn from a word used to describe an oasis-like gathering space, underscores the work’s function as both physical structure and communal experience. Visitors are invited to move among the illuminated trunks, reflecting on humanity’s evolving relationship with nature and the potential of design to foster balance between urban life and ecological responsibility.

Part of Noor Riyadh’s 2024 commission program, Midwan – The Palm Forest exemplifies Taha’s ability to translate cultural references into poetic, spatial experiences. The installation becomes a contemplative sanctuary—one where light, material, and memory converge in a vision of sustainable progress rooted in place.