D+D U.K.

2644 30th Street, Suite 100
Santa Monica
CA, 90405

D+D U.S.

6697 Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Alawal
Hitten
Riyadh 13516
Saudi Arabia

D+D Saudi Arabia

P1‑106, Yas Creative Hub, Tower 3
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates, PO Box 769784

D+D UAE

World Expo

“I don’t like to cut and paste. I like to learn a culture, work with them, and have a dialogue, and then come up with results.”

At World Expo 2025, DDX produced a six-month cultural programme within the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, showcasing contemporary Saudi creativity through exhibitions, residencies, and interactive experiences. As the final resident in the Cultural Arts Studio, Ahmad Angawi brought his philosophy to life, creating new works that fused cultural practices.

A major figure in the Saudi art scene, Angawi is a multidisciplinary creative and educator from Makkah. His practice bridges Hejaz heritage and contemporary design, revitalising traditional craft while inspiring a new generation of artists and makers. At the Pavilion, he reimagined Mangour, the traditional Hijazi wooden latticework rooted in sacred geometry. Respectful yet inventive, he explored its hidden proportions and adapted it for a contemporary context, drawing parallels with Japan’s Kumiko latticework and Shoji screens. The collaboration highlighted the universal principles of geometry, balance, and light, turning a centuries-old craft into a dialogue between cultures.

Angawi demonstrated the intricate design and making of Mangour using geometric drawing techniques and traditional woodworking tools. The residency evolved into a cross-cultural collaboration with Takuya Shimoyashiki, a Kumiko craftsman from Japan. Together, they created a hybrid artwork blending Saudi and Japanese techniques, celebrating the craftsmanship of both traditions.

The residency was highly interactive: audiences witnessed live demonstrations of planing, cutting Kumiko pieces, and revealing the detailed geometric patterns of Mangour. This immersive experience allowed visitors to appreciate both the skill and cultural significance behind each craft.

By connecting Saudi and Japanese techniques, Angawi showed how heritage can inspire contemporary design while fostering cross-cultural understanding, transforming the Cultural Arts Studio into a space where tradition, education, and innovation converged.

Ahmad Angawi at World Expo, 2025

At World Expo 2025, DDX collaborated with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture to deliver a vibrant programme of exhibitions and residencies at the Saudi Pavilion, offering visitors an immersive journey into Saudi creativity. Among the highlights, Safia Ahmasani, a leading practitioner of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, brought the rich visual language of Aseer to life, showcasing the intricate geometric patterns and cultural traditions passed down through generations of Asiri women.

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is a traditional decorative art from Saudi Arabia’s Asir region, characterised by vibrant geometric patterns and bold colors used to adorn home interiors, particularly the majlis and women’s quarters. Historically practiced by women and handed down through generations, it reflects both aesthetic expression and cultural identity, often incorporating symbolic meanings related to protection, fertility and heritage. 

During her residency at the Pavilion, Ahmasani created a new commission while engaging visitors with the techniques and cultural significance of the art form. She introduced the vibrant patterns and symbolic language of her region to a Japanese audience and used the opportunity to foster cross-cultural connections.

Al Qatt Al Asiri Artists at World Expo, 2025

Next Project