New York University Abu Dhabi
PROJECTS 2025
SHELL[TER]
finalist project
Lukrecija Paulikaite, Ajla Sacic, Shahd Nigim
SHELL[TER] is a modular hydroponic structure designed as a shared community space that embodies the protective and life-sustaining qualities of seashells. The structure serves both as a growing system and a gathering point, fostering communal care, healthy nutrition, and environmental awareness. Drawing inspiration from the porous geometry of shells, it features pockets for plant growth, creating a nurturing environment. Just as a shell offers habitat and safety for marine life, SHELL[TER] provides a participatory space where both people and plants can thrive, encouraging community connection and sustainable living in an integrated, nature-inspired way.
ZÆHR
Nonfinalist project
Aya Amine, Elora Trotter, Irem Naz Çelen
ZÆHR is a conceptual perfume that explores the duality of poison and cure in a world overwhelmed by pollution and chemical exposure. Inspired by the Greek and Arab idea of pharmakon and the phrase “يجرح ويداوي” (“cuts and heals”), ZÆHR draws on medieval Arab antidote traditions, particularly theriac formulas from Kitāb al-Diryāq (1199). This topical fragrance ferments botanical extracts and trace bioactive compounds into a skin-applied solution that does more than smell—it helps neutralize airborne toxins. Blending ancient medicinal knowledge with modern environmental challenges, ZÆHR acts as both symbolic armor and functional remedy in a toxic age.
Instructor 2025
Sara Niroobakhsh, Visiting Assistant Art Professor in the Interactive Media Program at NYU Abu Dhabi, is a multidisciplinary artist and educator. Niroobakhsh holds MFAs in Art and Technology Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and MFA from Tehran University of Art. She is co-founder of the Extended Reality Lab and has led discussions on the intersection of art, technology, and identity internationally in museums and public art venues such as the Museum of the Future in Dubai.