Desert of Pharan/Room with a View

Overview

Desert of Pharan, 2011—2013 , an ongoing project by Ahmed Mater that documents the rapid development of Islam’s holiest city, takes its title from the ancient name of the region surrounding Makkah (Mecca). This second chapter, Desert of Pharan/Room with a View, focuses on the tension between public and private space in Islamic cities. While Makkah is home to more than a million residents, it is being transformed to cater to the needs of millions more pilgrims and tourists.

As public space disappears under pressure from real-estate ventures, security measures and collective neglect, the price of private access increases: a view of the Haram al Sharif, the public courtyard surrounding the Kaaba, can push the price of a hotel room to 3,000 USD a night. Is public space in the Islamic city becoming a luxury item? Is the courtyard becoming a commercial fiction?

All works courtesy of the Artist and Athr Gallery


2013

This project was part of Sharjah Biennial 11