EXHIBITION CATALOGUE 2025-2026

Meet the Artist

Dhyna Shaheem

Meet the Artist

A contemporary artist from the Maldives, whose work focuses on creating cultural fusion modern art by blending traditional Maldivian heritage with new artistic style and mixed media. Inspired by her love for the rich history and cultural influences of Maldives, she aims to incorporate elements of her ancestral roots into her work, exploring the balance between tradition and modernity through bold experimentation with textures, colors and diverse materials, bringing a fresh perspective to cultural storytelling and modern art.

Whispered Through Generations

Based on a narrative by my beloved grandmother, this villa is a tribute woven from the stories she carried deep in her heart – tales of her grandfather, a master and one of the most revered lacquer artists of his time. The narrative follows the footsteps of these master craftsmen who would journey to secluded, uninhabited islands to practice their sacred art in solitude. To protect the secrecy and sanctity of their intricate techniques, those who accompanied them were blindfolded, leaving only the artisan with the vision and knowledge to carry forward this reassuring craft. This space is a vessel of that legacy – a sanctuary where memory, raft and reverence for tradition are etched into every corner.

To honor this spirit of inherited skill, a traditional Maldivian game, “Ovvalhu Gondi,” was collaboratively created with the resort’s master carpenters, as an interactive experience within the exhibition.