‘Bedouin society will be modern from an internal, intellectual perspective. Let everything be developed. There are customs that we are obligated to preserve, but not to the point of strangulation.’

Research on the process of modernisation features two conflicting concepts. The first claims that traditional societies often abandon their unique cultures and adopt common elements that characterise Western modernity. The second, called multiple modernities, claims that societies confronting modernisation tend to integrate their culture thus creating a unique form of modernity. In this way, a modern way of life is created with some common denominators, while also remaining diverse and pluralistic.

These four abstract pieces use digital techniques to recreate elements from traditional Bedouin woven patterns. However, the original, regular rhythms of the designs are interrupted and fragmented, to represent the reorganisation of many aspects of Bedouin traditions. Despite this, the designs aim to retain and fuse modern, abstract artistic styles of composition with traditional symbols, suggesting the new forms of ‘modernity’ being experienced and developed in Bedouin communities.