Christopher Joshua Benton: Carpet Diem
About
Christopher Joshua Benton doesn’t just make art — he builds worlds. Worlds made of astroturf and migrant stories, local artifacts and Emirati iconography, stitched together through hours of conversation and craftsmanship. His latest project is Abu Dhabi’s first artist-designed park, set in the city’s historic carpet souk. Where Lies My Carpet Is Thy Home is built from 3,000 meters of hand-cut astroturf, shaped by 40 workers over 18,000 hours — a giant textile you walk through, not just look at. Inspired by Afghan war rugs, Bruegel paintings, and the god’s-eye view, the piece asks you to learn the stories of people you meet every day. To walk closer. To listen. To take your time. Chris is part artist, part cultural facilitator. He’s into co-authorship, fair pay, breaking hierarchies, and using imagination as a tool for real change. We caught up with him in Abu Dhabi to wander the souk, talk craft and care, and hang out in his studio — where ideas flow and the pop girlies stay on loop.
