Breath of the Compassionate

Size: 7" x 7" // Medium: Geomtry + Islamic Illumination

𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯, 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘶𝘵⁣⁣

In geometry, the Breath of the Compassionate, 𝘕𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘢𝘩𝘮𝘢𝘯, is an eight-pointed star pattern with static and dynamic squares overlapping each other. It is a design used in many cultures and regions; it’s symmetry and balance symbolizes harmony and unity. When the stars of this form are tessellated, it signifies the expansive inhale breath, while the eight cornered shapes in between them shows the contraction of the exhale. As suggested by Keith Critchlow, “when this star is tessellated it is then known as the ‘Breath of the Compassionate’”. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺.

⁣⁣This eight-pointed star motif is inspired from the facade walls of Al Jami’ al Anwar in Cairo. The inside of the star however is inspired by a biomorphic pattern from the haveli (mansion) of Syedna Ismail Badruddin ^RA in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. The graceful juxtaposition of Fatimi Islamic patterns from medieval Egypt with the stylistic features of Dawoodi Bohra architecture from Western India defines my heritage and is reflected in my designs.

⁣⁣A breath you give and a breath you take. Is this a delicately balanced transaction or an indication that nothing comes for free, except that which is destined for me?⁣