This artistic research project introduces methods that use tactility, scent, light, and sound to explore the palpable tensions between seductive and immersive qualities and discomfort, as well as deliberately unsettling physical experiences. Alongside the physical installation is a sound piece by the Jordanian-Palestinian artist Raghad Resres, featuring a humming sound inspired by a Levantine lullaby, intended to evoke both curiosity and a sense of threat. 

The interior is intentionally left in a raw, chaotic, and incomplete state. This design choice challenges visitors’ expectations and conventional ideas of “Middle Eastern” aesthetics. By presenting an unrefined space, I aim to shift how we perceive and understand war trauma and the lived experiences of marginalized individuals. The scent of bakhour evokes the dual nature of a home, as both a sanctuary and a potential site of danger.