إذا ﻣاتَ ﺷﻲءٌ ﻣﻦ اﳊﺐ ﺑﻘﻲَ اﻟﺒﺎﻗﻲ |If Something dies from love, the rest remains. 2024
Qasr Al-Bint, nestled within the ancient archaeological site of Madain Saleh in AlUla, is not merely a stone structure; it serves as a repository of a forbidden love story. According to myth, this palace was once the backdrop for a tale of star-crossed lovers: a young woman deeply enamored with a man from a neighboring tribe. Legends suggest she would clandestinely lower her long braid down the mountain, enabling her lover to ascend and join her in secrecy. Despite societal norms and tribal restrictions casting a shadow over their love, their romance flourished within the palace’s hidden corners. The city, with its watchful eyes, became both sanctuary and betrayer to their relationship.
As whispers of their forbidden love reached those who opposed it, tragedy ensued. The young lovers, bound by the constraints of their time, met a heart-wrenching fate. Some renditions of the tale depict the young woman’s tragic demise, while others speak of a sorrowful separation. Today, Qasr Al-Bint stands as a silent witness to this forbidden love, its stone walls preserving the untold emotions of the mythical couple. The uncarved, unfinished palace serves as a poignant reminder of their incomplete story, frozen in time and waiting to be unveiled.
In the 10-minute immersive performance, titled “If something dies from love, the rest remains,” these mythical echoes resurface. Through a fusion of art, movement, music, and scent, the artist crafts a multidimensional exploration of love, loss, remembrance, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Audiences were invited to embark on a captivating journey, where cultural and mythical elements intertwined, inviting reflection on the enduring threads of human experience. The performance becomes a vivid exploration of untold tales, inviting the audience to experience an epic ancient love story etched within the stone walls of the mythical palace. Watch performance here.
