Jumana Emil Abboud explores themes of water, heritage and imagination.

Palestinian artist Jumana Emil Abboud is hosting a series of workshops at the V&A in South Kensington. Running from 13 June to 19 September, The Water Diviners is free and open to all.

Exploring objects through the lens of water, the project invites participants to engage in collective storytelling, delving into a range of deep and meaningful themes. The sessions will trace the presence of water within the V&A itself — within the history of certain artefacts, the architecture of the building, and in participants’ own memories. These findings will be documented and will culminate in a live performance at a V&A Friday Late session during the London Design Festival on 19 September.

The workshops are inspired by Jumana Emil Abboud's previous work on wells and springs in Palestine — magical, spiritual, and folkloric sites whose histories have traditionally been preserved through storytelling.

Initiated in 2020 in the occupied West Bank village of Ein Qiniya, each of Jumana Emil Abboud's workshops contributes to a growing international collection of stories. This new series will explore the role of water-related narratives in museum spaces, weaving together personal experiences and cultural myths into a shared story of resistance and renewal.

Jumana Emil Abboud’s work frequently blends folklore, water lore, and survival stories. Her art has been featured in numerous exhibitions and biennials, including the Aomori Contemporary Art Centre (2024), the 8th Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art (2023), the 23rd Biennale of Sydney (2022), and the Venice Biennale (2009, 2015). She is currently shortlisted for the Joan Miró Prize (2025) and the Artes Mundi 11 Prize (2025–2026), and is also a Jameel Fellow at the V&A.

The workshops with Jumana Emil Abboud will take place across eight separate Friday evening sessions, from June to September. Participants are required to attend at least three sessions during the programme.

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GO: Visit www.vam.ac.uk for more information.