An Auspicious Journey

The historical Kuwaiti sailing and pearl diving expeditions are fraught with hardship, enduring for over forty days at sea and frequently resulting in the tragic loss of life. Yet the sea has historically served as the primary livelihood to the Kuwaiti people. Despite its unforgiving nature, there exists a deep devotion to it by the sea captains, known as "Nawakhetha", and divers. Their relationship with the water is a synergetic bond rooted in respect for its power. As they journey back to the homeland, long before the shore comes into view, they are greeted by dragonflies darting around them. This serves as a sign that land is near, and their arduous expedition is nearing its end. From that, dragonflies began to hold profound significance, symbolizing good omens. According to local myth, encountering a dragonfly circling around you three times signifies that good luck is coming. I employed the Cyanolumen technique, exposing elements sourced from Kuwait's historical sea ports—sand, seaweed, and salts—to create the images.