Sabine Mirlesse

Created during a research residency in AlUla, this artwork by Sabine Mirlesse reimagines a 13th-century divinatory device, using sand as a medium for seeking answers. Inspired by the Arabic word Ayn—meaning both "eye" and "water source"—the work reflects the oasis as a site of revelation.

Rooted in the ancient divination practice of geomancy, Mirlesse explores how markings in sand can serve as a means of inquiry. Her installation in the palm grove features a brass pendulum that, when set in motion by visitors, disperses sand onto engraved plates, forming patterns reminiscent of a historical geomantic device.

The pendulum’s movement, unique to each participant, symbolizes personal agency, while the falling sand evokes time’s passage. Engraved dials help interpret the patterns in relation to daily life, directions, and constellations. In a larger variation of the work, the public becomes both participant and interpreter in an ongoing, interactive reading.