False Pools: The Mythology of the Virgin at Adhari
Photography, Sculpture, Poetry
2020 to present
This multimedia project examines transmutation, folktale, land politics, and a hauntological approach of the self. Alsaie investigates the origin story of Adhari in Bahrain, specifically the legend of a young virgin whose tears transformed into a magical spring. The work reimagines spontaneous puddles around the island as new sites for this folktale, creating a binary between the magical and the mundane. Originally a sacred spring, Adhari was converted into a public pool. The project questions cultural memory, artifact, and satire through a critical reexamination of this cherished legend and its cultural significance.