Swan Queen + Cygnus — Sharjah Light Festival

Swan Queen and Cygnus are interconnected new media art shows created for the Sharjah Light Festival 2024. Sharing the same canvas intermittently at the Rafisah Dam and Reservoir, these shows narrate the story of Sharjah from prehistoric times through the lens of an imagined local myth about a Swan Queen.

Visual Research

Our research for the upcoming show required digging into numerous sources including local myths, flora and fauna and history of the area. In particular, Stephen Green's 1998 boulder art study offered some necessary insights into the ancient rock art and regional storytelling methods.

Animal-like figures engraved on a dark rock surface

Ancient rock engraving on a boulder among loose stones

Dense geometric markings and figures carved into a rock

Archaeological fragments including pottery and patterned objects

Hand-drawn study of animal figures and rock-art shapes

Engraved boulder within the rocky landscape

Reference sheet of ancient symbols and their interpretations

Comparative chart of coloured rock-art symbols

Broad rock surface with engraved human and animal figures

Rounded boulder covered in engraved figures

The idea for using swan drones came about more from necessity than inspiration. We wanted to collaborate with Loomaland, but could not find an opportunity. While exploring local wildlife data, we noted the rarity of swans in Sharjah, which struck us as a usable angle for our narrative. This led to the concept of a Swan Queen whose once-in-a-lifetime arrival signals a golden age. It was a fitting legend to wrap around the swan drone capabilities; not just a story, but an event waiting to be brought to life.

Swan Queen concept art with a white swan, stone ruins and a celestial pattern

Concept art of planetary orbits above a mountain valley

White Swan Queen in a vivid desert landscape with flowing water

Golden landscape concept with waterfalls and stylised animals

Concept illustration of animals and birds within a rocky habitat

Golden celestial figure beneath a network of glowing stars

To visually represent this idea, we leaned on animated boulder art mirroring the region’s ancient traditions, alongside elements of celestial mechanics to suggest some cosmic alignment for the Swan Queen's arrival. We also included scenes depicting abundance of water and flourishing life to symbolise the prosperity of this golden age. Working with a local calligraphy master, we created a prologue that introduced the audience to the story. This method allowed us to construct a narrative that, while mythical, remains anchored in Sharjah's natural and historical backdrop.