Baggage from old Dubai by Lynn Haverhals

This image shows a quiet corner where objects have piled on top of each other, so to speak. Old wooden crates, metal cases and handmade boxes form a vertical composition against a weathered wall. Each object bears its own traces of use: scratches, patina and discolouration that testify to time and travel. The soft earth tones of the walls and wood are interspersed with dark metal and subtle ornaments, making for a calm but rich whole.

This work was created while walking through an old neighbourhood, where warehouses and small passages kept attracting me. The way objects are kept here, not to display but to preserve, touched me. Stacking crates and suitcases felt like stacking memories: each piece with a past, each object with a story that does not need to be told loudly.

The atmosphere is warm, earthy and slowed down. There is a sense of silence and shelter, as if the outside world here remains at bay for a while. The sculpture invites you to keep looking and explore layer after layer.

For me, this work is about preservation and retention. About how people carry their past with them, sometimes literally in chests and suitcases. It is an ode to the lived-in, to things that are not replaced but cherished. The image invites reflection: what do we carry with us, and what do we leave behind?

The image is captured with natural light, allowing the textures and materials to retain their authenticity. The composition is deliberately kept calm, with a central focal point that guides the gaze without forcing it. Colours and contrasts have been kept soft to enhance the timeless atmosphere.

This work comes into its own beautifully in an interior that embraces warmth and character. It suits lovers of travel, stories and craft objects. As wall work, it brings depth and calm to a room and invites attentive viewing, again and again.