In the section “Going Public” Manal AlDowayan’s shows the installation “Tree of Guardians” .
In Tree of Guardians, brass leaves inscribed with women’s names float in the air like a conversation, surrounded by more than 300 drawings of maternal family trees. In preparation for this work, AlDowayan organized workshops across three cities in Saudi Arabia, in which participants were invited to respond to the question “when do women disappear from memory?” Participants reflected on the women in their own families, recovering their memories from traditional patriarchal lineages. These narratives echo the oral storytelling traditions through which Saudi women keep cultural heritage and collective legacy alive across generations.
The 2021 installation for the biennale has two new elements: All the genealogical tree drawings made in the women's workshops were included in the exhibition, and in addition, it also has a participatory element: in an area by the entrance, visitors are invited to record the history of the maternal side of their families, joining in the work of these women as preservers, transmitters, and guardians of personal and collective histories. AlDowayan aims to inspire visitors to “engage others in conversations about the past, present, and future” and continue to “create a ripple effect of active preservation.”