The Lungs of Riyadh ( IN PROGRESS)

The Lungs of Riyadh is a sculptural data installation that visualizes the breath of a city through the lens of environmental consciousness and machine intelligence. This artwork seems to take the abstract form of a pair of human lungs, referencing both the biological systems we depend on and the fragile respiratory health of urban environments. The shapes are however maps of Riyadh’s urban sprawl—laser-cut into layered, organic patterns that echo capillaries, roadways, and the arterial flow of a living city.

Integrated into the artwork are a network of electronics that collect and respond to real-time pollution and air quality data. Through an embedded AI system, the work learns to recognize patterns in the environmental data, subtly adjusting its light, sound, and movement outputs to reflect the rhythms of the city’s “breathing.” When air quality drops, the lungs dim or pulse more slowly; when the air is cleaner, they brighten or expand their activity—turning invisible environmental conditions into an emotional, sensory experience.

This work makes the invisible visible. It draws attention to the health of both the city and its inhabitants, highlighting the intimate connection between data, environment, and the body. By shaping the work in the image of lungs, The Lungs of Riyadh becomes not only a poetic metaphor, but also a critical commentary on the consequences of unchecked urbanization, industrialization, and digital detachment from nature.

Functioning as both a public warning system and a meditative sculpture, the piece invites viewers to pause and reflect: What does it mean for a city to breathe? And what role do we play in shaping the atmosphere we share?

Exhibition. Concept at DAF Diriyah Arts Futures Riyadh. While artist in Residence. 2025

Medium: Laser-cut mixed media, electronics (in development), AI machine learning, real-time pollution data/

Scale to be determind by budgets ....at least 1.4m high by 3m

Keywords. CITY, DATA, REAL TIME, GENERATIVE, ART