Rahal is a paper-based sculptural work that seeks to raise awareness of the environmental threats and pollution in the Arabian Gulf, and highlight the urgent need to protect its marine habitat and biodiversity. Through the lens of biomimicry, the installation examines the geometric underpinnings of nature and the mathematical foundation that lies therein. By investigating the elaborate mineral skeletons of the radiolaria species – planktonic microorganisms that habituate our oceans and seas – a world of perfect geometric form and symmetry is revealed.

Inspired by their polygonal forms, Rahal’s adaptable structure is based on an octahedral pattern folded into a sheet of natural paper. As each fold is creased into its surface, a dynamic sculptural form is created. Adapting its shape with each movement, the highly flexible surface is a constant state of flux, mirroring a principle of universal interconnectedness.