JEDDAH: Seven young artists have explored Jeddah’s history, memories and relationship with the Red Sea through “Time Reflected on Water,” a showcase of individual and collective works by the 2026 Recess cohort at Hayy Jameel’s Hayy Explorers. The exhibition runs until Oct. 17. For the 15 to 17-year-old participants, the program offered an opportunity to look more closely at a city they already knew.
Nour Ibrahim said the program gave her a deeper understanding of the different communities and histories connected to Jeddah. “It was fascinating to learn about the different gates and doors to Jeddah and the sheer variety of places all the pilgrims and traders used to come from,” she said. “The visit to the Red Sea Museum and the ‘Red Wind, Coral Worlds’ exhibition opened my eyes to the cultural mix that makes Jeddah unique.”
Ibrahim noted that one of the most personal aspects of her contribution was her portfolio, which included sketches, experiments, research, and writing produced during the program. “I was somewhat nervous to display it in the showcase because it felt like a direct view into my thought process. But I think there is value in being able to see all of the stages a project has gone through before coming to fruition.”
For Alma Hawwa, the program highlighted the close connections between residents of Jeddah. “There has been a lot of things, but one is just how small and interconnected Jeddah really is,” she said, recalling visits to Al-Balad and Darat Safeya Binzagr. A frequent saying she heard throughout the program was “Jeddah is two rooms and a salon,” which proved its truth as she gradually recognized individuals. Hawwa’s work also draws on personal memory, including writing about her grandfather and the experience of grief. “I hope visitors get reminded of how important it is to spend time with their loved ones and learn more about them,” she stated.
Layan Alshakhshir mentioned that Recess prompted her to reconsider the origins of Jeddah’s name. “Jeddah was always just Jeddah to me,” she said, adding that learning about possible roots referencing “jaddah,” meaning grandmother, and “jadd,” meaning seashore, changed her perspective. Her final project transformed significantly during the program as she moved away from an initial agricultural focus and returned to her original artistic intent. “This experience taught me that despite the start being unsatisfactory and wanting to give up, you should try again and see where that leads you,” she explained. “Sometimes a rocky start shows you an even better idea and outcome than you ever envisioned.”
Sahrish S. Ali, learning program leader at Hayy Jameel, observed that the students alone refined their approach to art over the three months. “Cognitively, the cohort shifted its view of art from a simple aesthetic concept to a deep‑thinking and deep‑looking process,” she said. “Through the program’s pedagogical framework, we wanted young people to understand that the process of researching and making something is as vital as the final outcome, and the final exhibit reflects that.”
The cohort’s work covers a range of interests, including Jeddah’s cultural history, nature, agriculture, memory, and inherited traditions. The showcase also features collective works by the seven participants, such as the “Expedition Manifesto,” a shared declaration born from early discussions regarding their values. From her perspective, one of the most meaningful aspects of the cycle was witnessing the students develop individual interests while learning from one another. “We as their teachers and mentors learned a great deal from them as much as they did from us,” she concluded.