Kaukab - un Durri: Radiant Star

Size: 22.5" x 21" // Medium: Watercolours on Arches Watercolour Paper

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶.” - Imam Ali b. Abi Talib ^SA⁣⁣⁣⁣

The circular forms and geometric motifs found in Middle Eastern architectural monuments represent the metaphysics of the universe to help a perceiver reflect on life and the greatness of creation. My art showcased here is the self-realization that the entire cosmos above — with all its planets, galaxies and countless shining stars 💫 — resides within me also. This self-realization was inspired by the ancient Fatimi monuments in Cairo. Their patrons, the Fatimi imams, were known to imbue meaning in the architectural forms of these buildings as well as the beautiful inscriptions and geometric motifs that adorn their walls. Of these motifs, I find the multiple medallions carved expertly in stone particularly inspiring. The fluid lines of the sacred geometric patterns that fill these medallions form elegant shapes of multi-pointed stars, and remind me of celestial bodies in the heavens above, and also of the microcosmic cosmos within 🌌 ⁣⁣⁣⁣

The human body is a microcosm of the universe and the processes we witness above can be seen within as well. The Fatimi medallion, or 𝘮𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘸𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘢, as it is referred to in Arabic, depicted in my work embodies a star in its heavenly firmament. In light of the association between the heavens and the human, just as stars come into being, the medallion also represents stages of human birth. ⁣