Roham Shamekh Unveils ‘Self Love’ at Design Miami. Paris 2025

A Poetic Exploration of Sitting and Reflection

At this year’s Design Miami. Paris, Dubai-based multidisciplinary artist and designer Roham Shamekh unveils his latest installation, ‘Self Love’, a poetic and thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between self, space, and design. The installation presents three monumental artichoke-flower seats, versatile in their ability to inhabit both indoor and outdoor environments. Crafted from ceramic and Shamekh’s proprietary resin, these sculptural forms transform the simple act of sitting into an intimate ritual; a deliberate pause for reflection, presence, and contemplation.

Self Love is more than furniture; it is an invitation. It does not dictate how one should sit, feel, or think. Instead, the installation allows space for the inner life to unfold organically. Its design balances absence and presence, restraint and excess, offering a layered experience in which the complex relationship one holds with oneself can surface naturally. In a world that often prioritises function over introspection, Shamekh’s work reminds visitors that design can also be poetic, introspective, and deeply human.

From Everyday Pouffe to Surreal Floral Sculpture

Rooted in the familiar silhouette of an everyday pouffe, Shamekh elevates the form into something extraordinary and surreal. Each artichoke-flower blooms open in layered petals, inviting visitors not just to sit, but to inhabit a state of stillness. In this context, sitting becomes an intentional act of self-love, a quiet moment to turn inward and observe one’s own universe before engaging with the world beyond.

“The act of sitting is never passive for me,” explains Shamekh. “When you settle into these giant artichoke flowers, you turn inward, you reflect, and from that quiet space, transformation begins.” In a sense, Self Love transforms the gallery floor into a meditative sanctuary, encouraging visitors to pause in the midst of one of Paris’s most dynamic design fairs and engage with both the work and themselves.

A Dreamlike, Ethereal Environment

Together, the three artichoke-flower seats form a dreamlike landscape; a hybrid of the earthly and the ethereal. Their sculptural forms create a sanctuary that contrasts with the bustling environment of Design Miami. Paris, inviting moments of quiet contemplation and introspection. The installation demonstrates how design can extend beyond functionality, becoming a soulful encounter that resonates on emotional, psychological, and aesthetic levels.

Through Self Love, Shamekh pushes boundaries, blending craftsmanship and innovation. Every curve, every petal, every tactile surface reflects a balance between technical precision and poetic sensibility. The installation becomes an exemplar of how contemporary design can dissolve the distinctions between art, design, and sculpture, offering visitors an experience that is both visually striking and conceptually profound.

Expanding the Language of Experimental Design

Shamekh’s work embodies a fluid approach to design, one that moves away from rigid classifications and embraces a hybrid cultural landscape. He merges disciplines seamlessly, integrating narrative, material innovation, and emotional resonance into everyday objects. Through this lens, furniture ceases to be purely functional; it becomes performative, reflective, and transformational.

The installation’s underlying philosophy reinforces the idea that intentional design can shape how we interact with ourselves and the spaces around us. Each artichoke-flower seat is more than an object; it is a space for reflection and self-awareness, a gentle prompt to slow down, notice, and nurture the relationship with oneself. In this way, Self Love exemplifies the evolving role of design in contemporary life: not merely to decorate or furnish, but to cultivate mindfulness, presence, and personal growth.

Roham Shamekh: A Radical Voice in Contemporary Design

Roham Shamekh stands at the forefront of a new generation of crossover artist-designers, whose work defies conventional categorisation. His creations challenge traditional boundaries between art, design, and architecture, articulating a radical voice that is both experimental and deeply emotive. Based in Dubai, Shamekh leads a studio dedicated to collectable design and soulful living, exploring themes of transformation, intentionality, and manifestation.

For Shamekh, design is never purely about aesthetics or utility; it is a medium for personal and collective reflection. His artful mobilier encourages visitors to pause, reconnect, and engage with the self, bridging the gap between practical function and emotional resonance. Through his work, Shamekh demonstrates that contemporary design can be immersive, experiential, and profoundly human, extending beyond commercial or decorative purposes to engage with inner life and consciousness.

Design Miami. Paris: The Perfect Setting for Self Love

This year’s installation finds its home at L’hôtel de Maisons, 51 Rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris, during Design Miami. Paris 2025, one of the most anticipated events in the international design calendar. Running from Wednesday, October 22, to Sunday, October 26, the fair showcases leading designers, artists, and galleries from around the world. In this context, Self Love stands out as a contemplative counterpoint to the high-energy atmosphere of a global design showcase.

By situating his installation in this prestigious setting, Shamekh invites an international audience to engage with the philosophical and poetic dimensions of design. Visitors are encouraged to not only admire the technical mastery and sculptural beauty of the artichoke seats but also to experience the deeper narrative embedded within them: a story of introspection, self-care, and emotional resonance in the contemporary design landscape.

The Poetics of Sitting and Reflection

Central to Self Love is the idea that sitting can be transformative rather than passive. The artichoke-flower seats serve as both physical objects and conceptual instruments, guiding visitors toward introspection. In a fast-paced world dominated by productivity and distraction, the installation offers a moment of stillness, a gentle reminder of the importance of turning inward and cultivating a conscious relationship with oneself.

Shamekh’s approach merges materiality and narrative seamlessly. The ceramic and resin surfaces are tactile and inviting, the layered petals both protective and revealing, offering a safe space for reflection and personal exploration. Through this interplay of form and philosophy, Self Love exemplifies how design can engage both the senses and the mind, creating an experience that is immersive, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant.

Crafting a New Design Language

Through Self Love, Roham Shamekh demonstrates that contemporary design is no longer confined to traditional expectations. His work exemplifies a new design language that embraces hybridity, experimentation, and narrative depth. It challenges audiences to consider furniture not merely as functional objects, but as instruments for emotional engagement and personal transformation.

The installation highlights the growing trend in the design world toward cross-disciplinary thinking, where art, architecture, and functional design converge. It also underscores a broader cultural shift: contemporary audiences increasingly value meaning, intentionality, and emotional resonance in the objects they interact with. Self Love is a compelling manifestation of this philosophy, reflecting the evolving role of design as a tool for reflection, mindfulness, and soulful engagement.

An Invitation to Pause and Reflect

Ultimately, Self Love is an invitation. It is an opportunity to pause, sit, and reflect in a world that rarely allows stillness. Through the sculptural form of the artichoke flowers, Roham Shamekh encourages a contemplative engagement with both the self and the surrounding environment. The installation reminds us that design can be transformative, poetic, and deeply human, offering a sanctuary for reflection amid the bustle of contemporary life.

For visitors to Design Miami. Paris 2025, Self Love is not just an exhibit; it is an experience, a meditation, and a moment of introspection. By combining craftsmanship, narrative, and a radical approach to form, Roham Shamekh continues to redefine what contemporary design can be, offering a vision of design as an artful, intentional, and soulful practice.

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Exhibition Details

• Location: L’hôtel de Maisons, 51 Rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris, France

• Dates: Wednesday, October 22 — Saturday, October 25, 11am — 7pm; Sunday, October 26, 11am — 6pm

Through Self Love, Roham Shamekh invites each visitor to experience the transformative power of design—to sit, pause, and reconnect with themselves in a space where art, design, and introspection merge seamlessly.

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