Mohammad Alfaraj: The Heart Is a Bird's Nest, the Brain Is a Spider Web

A Domestic Ecology Across Species

Mohammad Alfaraj presents his inaugural European institutional solo presentation at the Delfina Foundation, running from 29 September to 22 November 2026. Titled The heart is a bird's nest, the brain is a spider web, the showcase merges newly commissioned pieces with recent outputs that explore cross-species narratives and our deeply interconnected existences. Developed around the foundation's residential architecture, the project echoes the artist's previous tenancies there during 2018 and 2024. Spanning installation, drawing, photography, moving image, and sculptural forms, the work positions itself among the most distinctive voices emerging from contemporary Saudi Arabia.

Drawing upon communal customs, regional folklore, and daily routines, Alfaraj constructs immersive environments where flora, fauna, and humanity share domestic spaces. The exhibition's nomenclature reflects a specific poetic framework: the heart functions as a sanctuary of nurture and kinship, much like a woven avian dwelling, while the mind operates as an intricate lattice of overlapping connections. By framing habitation as an expansive, collective habitat, the artist surfaces mundane yet startling bonds between inhabitants. He has previously remarked that insects, livestock, and avian visitors constitute extended family units, transforming the gallery into a site of personal and artistic return.

Materials, Memory, and Moving Forward

Alfaraj's methodology relies on a cinematic assemblage of disciplines, blending video, sound, photographic records, architectural interventions, and textual fragments. Raised in Al Ahsa, a date-palm oasis situated within an oil-rich landscape, he maintains a critical awareness of human reliance on ecological systems. His studio practice routinely utilises locally sourced elements such as soil, dried fronds, and fruit, alongside found household items. This tactile approach aligns with his fascination for spoken histories and childhood pastimes, probing how fictional accounts intersect with documented reality.

Holding a degree in mechanical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, completed in 2017, Alfaraj has steadily built a robust international profile. Recent appearances include the 2025 Taipei Biennale and Jameel Art Centre in Dubai, alongside major regional programmes such as the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and the Diriyah Islamic Arts Biennale. His earlier career features participation in the 16th Biennale de Lyon, Jeddah Arts, and various screenings at Dubai and Dammam film festivals.

Curated by Aaron Cezar, this presentation benefits from financial backing provided by the Mohammad Alfaraj Exhibition Circle and Cockayne Grants for the Arts. Looking ahead, the artist will stage a separate solo project at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris during October 2026. Through layered allegory and spiritual inquiry, the current showcase encourages audiences to rethink conventional definitions of household and belonging, offering a measured optimism amid pressing environmental and societal shifts.