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

At World Expo 2025, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion became a vibrant platform for creative exchange, brought to life through a programme of artist residencies and cultural experiences. Produced by DDX in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the programme evolved over six months, introducing visitors to a changing lineup of Saudi artists, exhibitions, musicians and live performances. As part of this programme, Saudi-Palestinian artist Ayman Yossri Daydban presented The Watcher, exploring themes of belonging, citizenship and cultural inheritance through his personal history and dual identity.

Inspired by his own name, which means “watchman,” Daydban adopted the role of observer, examining how meaning is shaped through images, language and everyday objects. From repurposed tissue boxes to comic-strip-style flags, his work reimagined symbols of mass culture as intimate tools of self-discovery.

During his residency, Daydban experimented with light and repeatedly reconfigured his interactive Treehouse structure, inspired by Jeddah, to explore the relationship between self and home, and the space between the personal and the public. His live sessions encouraged audience interaction, allowing visitors to witness the evolution of his work and engage directly with his creative process.

With DDX’s production and support, The Watcher transformed the Visual Arts Studio into a participatory environment that combined performance, installation and cultural reflection, creating an engaging and immersive experience for visitors.

Ayman Yossri Daydban at World Expo, 2025

At World Expo 2025 in Osaka, DDX produced the visual arts studio within the Saudi Arabia Pavilion as part of an ambitious six-month cultural programme. Conceived as a dynamic, rotating platform, the studio presented leading Saudi artists including an exhibition by Mohammad Ali Agency.

Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Mohammad Ali Agency delivered a bold, graphic-led exhibition  titled Based on Real Imagination that brought their distinctive approach to image-making, typography and narrative to the world stage. The work explored contemporary Saudi identity through layered visual systems and storytelling, establishing a striking and confident centrepiece for the studio.

Working in the studio, Saudi Manga artist Sama Albedaiwi produced new artworks in real time, inviting visitors to engage directly with her creative process, adding a sense of immediacy and participation to the exhibition.

Together, Mohammad Ali Agency’s exhibition and Sama’s live interventions transformed the visual arts studio into a living, working environment - balancing high-impact exhibition design with active making, reinforcing its role as a standout cultural destination within the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025.

Mohammad Ali Agency at World Expo, 2025

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