UAE-based Indian artist and graphic designer, Hannan Arshad has been announced as the winner of The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2025.
Arshad, mentored by Christianna Bonin, Assistant Professor at the American University of Sharjah’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, is known for blending storytelling with historical research and materials. Her winning project, Safekeeping Stories, is an interactive installation inspired by Mughal history and architecture.
The award is under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF).
Arshad’s work revives nearly forgotten Mughal building techniques, focusing on Lakhori bricks traditionally used in Mughal constructions. She recreates these bricks using edible materials, etching them with her own interpretations of Mughal miniature paintings.
Arranged like a library, the installation invites visitors to physically engage with the “books” by removing individual bricks, turning historical building blocks into a living archive of cultural memory.
Arshad plans to expand the installation and work with communities in the UAE and beyond to spark discussions about memory, identity, and cultural preservation.
Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, founder of ADMAF and Abu Dhabi Festival, praised the award for celebrating the legacy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude while encouraging innovation in fine arts and public sculpture. She highlighted Arshad’s dedication to documenting and reviving endangered cultural and architectural knowledge with environmentally friendly building practices.
Maya Allison, Executive Director of the NYUAD Art Gallery, called Safekeeping Stories a powerful example of how art can bridge memory, place, and material tradition. She emphasized the gallery’s commitment to supporting emerging artists through mentorship and resources.
Emily Doherty, director of The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, said the selection committee was captivated by Arshad’s thoughtful and beautiful proposal. Arshad will receive $5,000 to complete the installation, which will debut at Abu Dhabi Art in November 2025 before being shown at NYU Abu Dhabi and Um El Emarat Park.
Since 2013, The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award has served as a vital platform for UAE artists, offering mentorship, professional development, and public exposure. Arshad’s work continues that tradition with a project that reconnects history to the present through art and architecture.