At the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar, architect Sumayya Vally and her practice Counterspace present In the Assembly of Lovers, a powerful site-specific installation that reflects on the cultural, spiritual, and social significance of shared gathering spaces across the Muslim world. Commissioned for the fair and curated by Wael Shawky, the project aligns with the fair’s overarching theme of “Becoming,” which considers humanity’s ongoing transformation and evolving cultural frameworks.
Installed in Doha from February 3–7, the work operates simultaneously as architecture, memory, and performative environment—an evolving structure that resists monumentality in favor of collective activation. Drawing inspiration from historical gathering spaces, Vally constructs a contemporary forum that invites audiences to consider how communal rituals, dialogue, and shared presence shape both personal identity and collective belonging.
A Living Archive of Gathering Spaces
Installation view of Sumayya Vally’s “In the Assembly of Lovers,”Courtesy of Art Basel Qatar.
In the Assembly of Lovers takes its title from mystic poetry associated with Rabia al-Adawiyya, evoking themes of spiritual devotion and shared experience. The installation honors gathering sites that have been damaged, displaced, or lost entirely—ranging from the courtyards of Córdoba and gardens of Gaza to riverfronts in Kashmir, stoep gathering traditions in District Six, and communal spaces in Qatar’s Msheireb district. Through this constellation of references, the installation becomes a spatial archive, connecting geographies and histories through architectural gesture.
Rather than reconstructing these sites literally, Vally reinterprets their spatial logic. The installation references the enduring cultural significance of the majlis—an architectural and social institution central to community dialogue across Islamic societies—while translating its ethos into a contemporary, experimental environment.
“’In the Assembly of Lovers’ is rooted in a longing for collective spaces that have been lost… the installation gestures toward a shared architectural memory.”
Architecture Activated by Presence
Installation view of Sumayya Vally’s “In the Assembly of Lovers,”Courtesy of Art Basel Qatar.
Central to the project is Vally’s understanding of architecture as a dynamic condition rather than a fixed object. Designed as a flexible ground for encounter, the installation transforms daily, hosting different assemblies, performances, and conversations throughout the fair’s duration. Each gathering reshapes the spatial configuration, emphasizing architecture as a living framework activated by human interaction.
This shifting structure challenges traditional exhibition architecture, which often privileges permanence and stability. Instead, Vally introduces temporality as a design principle, positioning community engagement as the primary architectural material. The result is an environment that continuously evolves—an architectural rhythm shaped by the voices, movements, and gatherings it contains.
“The installation proposes architecture as something ‘activated by the presence of the people who inhabit it,’ underscoring gathering as an act of cultural continuity.”
Material, Sound, and Atmosphere
Installation view of Sumayya Vally’s “In the Assembly of Lovers,”Courtesy of Art Basel Qatar.
Constructed from plywood and micro-cement, the installation balances tactile materiality with conceptual fluidity. These modest materials reinforce the project’s emphasis on accessibility and adaptability while creating sculptural forms that encourage both intimate reflection and collective engagement.
Complementing the architectural framework is an eight-channel sound work that envelops visitors in an immersive sonic environment. The layered audio composition expands the installation’s narrative dimension, transforming it into a multisensory experience that bridges physical space with emotional resonance.
Together, material and sound create an environment that feels simultaneously grounded and ephemeral—reflecting the transient nature of gatherings themselves. The installation ultimately becomes less about reconstructing lost spaces and more about imagining future modes of communal encounter.
Reframing Collective Memory Through Design
Installation view of Sumayya Vally’s “In the Assembly of Lovers,”Courtesy of Art Basel Qatar.
Vally’s broader practice frequently examines hybrid identities and diasporic spatial histories, exploring how architecture can articulate complex cultural narratives. Through In the Assembly of Lovers, she expands this research into a participatory format, encouraging audiences to consider architecture not only as built environment but as a vessel for collective memory and emotional experience.
Presented within the global platform of Art Basel Qatar’s inaugural edition, the installation resonates as both a historical reflection and a speculative proposition. By assembling fragments of shared architectural heritage, Vally proposes gathering itself as a radical and hopeful act—one that bridges cultural boundaries while reaffirming the enduring human need for connection.
In the Assembly of Lovers: What to Know
Location: Barahat Square and various locations across the fair
Event: Art Basel Qatar
Dates: February 3–7, 2026
Artist/Architect: Sumayya Vally / Counterspace
Curator: Wael Shawky
Materials: Plywood, micro-cement, and eight-channel sound installation
