Weight of Glory

A sculpture crafted from “asq”, carefully assembled piece by piece.

The “asq”, a part of the palm tree, gradually bends as dates grow heavier. By the time of harvest, it reaches its final, elegant shape. Once the dates are cut, the “asq” has completed its task—supporting the weight of the crop—and is often discarded around the mezraa (garden), left to be burned.

During a walk through one of these gardens, pieces of the discarded wood—once bearers of the tree’s burden and beauty—were gathered. In the search for a project centered on recycled materials, the “asq” offered itself as an ideal medium: something discarded, yet full of sculptural potential.

The wood was sourced from various locations across Oman, with generous contributions from friends. Each piece was laid out and evaluated to discover how it might connect with others, forming a cohesive whole.

This sculpture stands as both an artistic experiment and a tribute to transformation—bringing renewed life to material that once carried the weight of glory.