The UAE Pavilion commissioned Ahmed & Rashid bin Shabib to develop, program and operate a six month long exhibition about the UAE date palm within the UAE Pavilion at EXPO Milano 2015.
The exhibition incorporated the rich historical and contemporary UAE concepts, modern design, engaging content and programming that serves the international community. The Exhibition was in collaboration with Sam Barcley and Anne Geenen.
The Sacred Life of Date Palm
Milan Expo 2015
The Palm Tree Ecosystem
For thousands of years, date palms have played a significant role in Bedouins’ lives in the UAE providing food, shelter and other necessities, making use of all parts of the tree and its fruit. Today, it continues to play a large role as global shortages of resources and a rising world population compel a new look at traditional renewable resources.
This exhibition takes an in-depth look into the history, lifecycle and ecosystem surrounding the date palm tree in the UAE. Viewers are taken along a journey to discover the date palm tree’s growth cycle, beginning with the cultivation of the tree through to the bearing of the fruit. Date palm trees have played a major role in the progression and sustainability of the UAE due to the wide range of products that could be developed not only from the date, but from the trees themselves. Virtually every part of the date palm tree is utilized to make functional items.
