In this workshop participants are invited to investigate the relational connections between the body and the spaces around us through precedents, writing prompts and hands-on exercises. Starting with a discussion on Tamara Kalo’s artistic practice, participants will identify spatial subjects from their environment – both everyday objects and architectural elements of Hayy Jameel – and explore embodied modes of measuring and understanding various scales through the human body. Through bodily gestures, materiality and documentation, participants are encouraged to document these alternative measuring practices through drawing, mapping, and photographing.

Participants are also invited to bring in objects from home that they would like to measure through alternative means. This could be an everyday item like a book or a pen.

Workshop Outline 

9pm
Introduction

9:15pm
Artist talk with Tamara Kalo

9:45pm
Prompt and writing workshop

10pm
Participants split into groups and begin embodied measuring and documentation around Hayy Jameel

10:50pm
Debrief

About the Artist

Tamara Kalo’s practice dives into the intersection of land, body, home and collective memory through photography, video, sculpture, textile and performance. Her work attempts to capture the fragility between moments and their recollection, through site-specificity, fragmentation, glitching and typology. Her practice is a means to witness the unfolding of personal and regional landscapes. Kalo has a BA in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. Recent exhibitions include Islamic Art Biennale, Jeddah (2025), Friends Artspace, Arlington, Gallery Isabelle, Dubai (2024) and MMAG Foundation, Amman (2024). She’s also held workshops in Amman, Saida, Alula and Riyadh.