Photos A La Chair Bahrain stands as one of the Kingdom’s most celebrated community art initiatives, bringing together diverse voices through the powerful lens of photography. It’s led by Camille Zakharia and Ali Karimi since 2017. I had the profound honor of hosting the 29th Edition of the 2024-2025 season.

This Photos A La Chair Bahrain session represented the beautiful intersection of Desi Khaleeji cultural art, celebrating the rich traditions that connect South Asian and Gulf communities. The project, founded by Lebanese photographer Camille Zakharia and Bahraini architect Ali Karimi featuring myself and Canadian based Bahraini Chef Suman Ali, highlighted the intersection of the Desi Diaspora and Khaleeji community, creating a platform where diverse cultural expressions flourish in Bahrain’s public spaces.

The exhibition centered around a traditional South Asian Gulf culture celebration, specifically featuring a Mehndi (Henna) ceremony installation that showcased the vibrant traditions shared between Desi diaspora art Bahrain communities and their Khaleeji neighbors. This cultural fusion art Gulf experience brought together Chef Suman Ali’s culinary artistry with traditional ceremonial elements along with a classical musical performance by Leena – A Tabla Player, creating an immersive celebration of cross-cultural connections. The session aimed at highlighting how Desi Khaleeji cultural art serves as a bridge between cultures, highlighting the shared celebrations, traditions, and artistic expressions that unite South Asian diaspora communities with their Gulf homeland.