The Art of Preservation: Bridging Historical Narratives and Modern Visual Expression in Omani Heritage Sites

Authors

  • Amal Ezzat Soliman Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman
  • Jerzy Wierzbicki Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman
  • Ossama Hegazy Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman
  • Hanna Al-Lawati Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman
  • Sarra Mrabti Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman
  • Muznah Almiqbali Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.9.1.4393

Keywords:

Cultural, Cultural Heritage Sites, Accessible Tourism, Cultural tourism, Creative tourism, Smart Tourism, Digital Innovation, digital transformation, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Sustainable destination, sustainability

Abstract

Based on an ongoing research project, this abstract combines modern representation with reconstructed history. With the use of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and high-definition screens, Oman's stunning natural beauty and rich historical legacy might be transformed into engaging, accessible, and instructive experiences. (Alrihani, N., 2022)
The objective is to preserve history while making it more appealing to audiences both locally and globally. Optical technology may be both an effective narrative tool and a preservation support by minimizing direct interaction with fragile monuments and landscapes. Visitors may interact with historically significant periods and experience these stories in real life through digital reconstructions, such as ancient cities, traditional handicrafts, and maritime trade. Through the provision of engaging, technologically enhanced experiences, this approach fosters the expansion of eco-friendly travel. More tourists will be attracted as a result, and new job opportunities in the areas of innovation and historical preservation will arise. Using contemporary visual technology in a cultural context encourages more community involvement, information transfer across generations, and keeps heritage interesting for a younger generation. (Sullivan, A.M., 2015) Through the integration of creative, artistic, and technological approaches with historical narratives, the initiative establishes Oman as a potential leader in the Gulf region's cultural tourism innovation. Heritage professionals, government officials, and innovative innovators looking to incorporate advanced technology interpretation methods while preserving history will be interested in them.

Author Biographies

Amal Ezzat Soliman, Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman

Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, specializing in Mural Paintings (Ph.D., Alexandria University). Dedicated to transforming art education into an immersive experience. Currently teaching design, drawing, painting, and printmaking in Oman. Recognized for artistic prowess, earning a UAE Golden Visa and showcasing work in numerous exhibitions across the region.

Jerzy Wierzbicki, Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman

Author of the photobooks „Gdansk Suburbia” (2005), „Sultanate of Oman” (2020). Awarded on Monovision (2025) Refocus (2024). Photographs published in BBC news, National Geographic Traveler. Photographs held in the collections. National Museum, Museum of Photography and Museum of Art in Lodz  (Poland). Private collections in UE, Japan, US.

Ossama Hegazy, Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman

holds a B.Arch from Alexandria and a postgraduate diploma in environmental engineering. Completed the International Master of Interior Architectural Design at HfT-Stuttgart, with studies in Scotland and Finland. earned his PhD in urban sociology from Bauhaus-University Weimar and is currently an associate professor of architecture in Muscat, Oman.

Hanna Al-Lawati, Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman

A visionary visual arts instructor with over eight years of higher education experience. She integrates multicultural contexts into drawing, painting, and design instruction; curates student exhibitions; and fosters creativity through collaborations with museums and international artists, inspiring students to develop expressive, professional artistic voices.

Sarra Mrabti, Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman

An artist, she earned a master's degree in arts in Tunisia (2014) and lectured in fine arts in Tunis and Muscat, specializing in ceramics. Her work focuses on presenting aesthetic values using the Kufic script, exploring intertwined and overlapping linear relationships inherent in the script's capabilities.

Muznah Almiqbali, Scientific college of Design, Muscat,Oman

 Muznah Abdullah AlMaqbali is an Omani artist and a fine arts student at the Scientific College of Design, currently in the third year.

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Published

2026-04-01