Ayman Zedani’s “The Valley of the Desert Keepers” is composed of sonic and sculptural elements, delivering an immersive experience for visitors to the valley. This installation grew out of Zedani’s fascination with the parasitic plants of the Arabian desert, particularly the plant family Cistanche tubulosa, which can be found during the rainy seasons in abundance near the tombs of Hegra, the once vibrant city of the ancient Nabataeans. These plants rely on horizontal gene transfer—a process through which the parasitic plants acquire the genes of host plants to ensure the survival of their own offspring. As such, their genomes contain an archive of the botanical history of the desert and, maybe, the keys to a livable future. The installation is comprised of various elements, including horizontal sculptural wires and a multichannel audio projection. The audio component combines a comprehensive narration of all the desert flora in Arabic with an echo, produced by the visitor’s own footsteps and amplified via microphones. At the site of the installation, a single Acacia tree sitting near an opening in the site slowly becomes the host plant, and an icon for the project. The work becomes at once anchored by and an ode to this fascinating flora. Read more at desertx.org Photography by @lance.gerber @zedani #aymanzedani #desertxalula @_desertx @artsalula @reemfadda @raneemfarsi @nevillewakefield