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Sani Charara
Creative Professional | BBA, AUB | Native English & Arabic
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Endless Possibilities — #Flora Museum Challenge
What is this gigantic medieval wine jug doing in the middle of Times Square? Yeah — that’s exactly what I asked myself too, so I decided to find out for myself.
After hours of scrolling the MET artwork collection, I finally stumbled upon a beautiful French wine jug from ca. 1680. Although I didn't have an idea of what I wanted to create with it, I knew I wanted to use this particular jug for my FLORA creation because I found it so visually mesmerizing. Then I thought, hey, what about putting something so classic and elegant into the most modern and urban setting one could think of: Times Square. So I decided to scale the jug in size on FLORA as a first step.
But then the more important question arose… what would its function be in Times Square? To put something that absurd in the middle of an urban setting like NYC, it must have a real reason to be there — to serve a purpose. At that point, an idea sparked; a portal.
Initially, my thoughts were almost fixed on either showing the portal take the viewer back to the medieval times — the era in which the jug was used, or to a Greek mythological world to complement and tell the story of the paintings on the jugs exterior, or maybe even to outer space. But the more I contemplated the idea, I felt like choosing a destination for the portal would limit what the artwork could mean. I was sure that leaving the destination unknown felt more powerful. Rather than defining what exists on the other side, the piece invites the viewer to discover the possibilities for themselves — allowing them to draw their own artwork using their imagination. In the video, the story ends when the portal is discovered and entered — but that’s where the viewer’s story only begins.
Using FLORA made it very easy for me to implement the setting and atmospheric ideas I had in mind for the placement of the jug and the street address in Times Square. FLORA effectively enabled me to translate all my thoughts and brainstorming onto a digital canvas that allowed this cinematic first person viewer's encounter to feel like a moment the viewer could actually experience.
Artwork link: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/208903
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This project was the full renovation of a small apartment that was in an uninhabitable state. Managing the entire process — my goal was to transform it into a modern, functional, and comfortable living space while making use of every square meter effectively.
The renovation involved installing completely new flooring with more modern-looking tiles, installing new doors and soundproof windows, relocating and adding more functional electrical outlets in the walls, and a new paint job.
Once the structural work was complete, I carefully selected minimalist furniture to accommodate spacial limitations but also maintain a sense of comfort. In addition to this, I chose brand new lighting, decor, and accessories to create a cohesive interior. The result was a complete transformation from an apartment that was no longer suitable for living into a stylish/cozy fully furnished home ready for tenants.
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This project involved a full renovation of a severely deteriorated and non-functional bathroom. The client wanted a fully functional modern bathroom while making use of the small space at hand effectively.
I managed the transformation from start to finish. The scope of work included complete demolition, new plumbing/piping, drainage installation, floor and wall tiling, sanitary ware, modern lighting, ventilation, fixtures, and accessories. Every stage was carefully coordinated to ensure quality workmanship, functionality, and a clean design.
The result was a fully upgraded bathroom that efficiently used the tight space and provided a modern look that met the client’s expectations from concept through completion.
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If you think interior design is confined to the office and drawings, think again. Interior design also involves real-world involvement especially when you work independently. This means being able to communicate, solve problems, make material decisions, and find the right people to implement the vision.
For this project, a client wanted custom twin beds that were of rare design style while trying to maintain a certain budget. I was responsible for transforming the vision into a final product by managing the whole process. This involved initial brainstorming and research for design options, finding the right carpenter, overseeing production, and finally being present during installation.
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