al-Musta

Joanna Ashary

joashary@gmail.com

@joanna.ea

“al-Musta” is a trading card game that explores a world of Arab futurism. Arab representation has for decades manifested only through primitive, or even “techno-primitive” portrayals. Instead, I sought out a future which called for Arab advancement and prosperity. The use of trading cards was motivated by my love for Pokémon as a kid, and the characters of this world were inspired by anime mechas such as Gundam and Evangelion. Most importantly, there are also many cultural symbols and traditions that occupy each scene, which were informed by experiences and memories of my hometown—Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, such as for instance, the beloved al-Balad district. This project was a way to reconnect with the past, and to reimagine a limitless future for Arab culture and society.