OF STONE AND SEA (2021)

Each Canvas (framed) : 46”x 74” (116cm x 188 cm)
Cement, Acrylic, India Ink, Powdered Stone, Pigments, Coffee, Iron Filings on Raw Canvas

The idea of “building a home” - a place for my spirit to reside - is the foundation of these artworks. On each canvas lies a textured topography of cement which channels the flow of ink and pigment. As it flows downward, the liquid’s traces are captured, evidence of its motion and emotion across the rough surface.

This material-driven approach was inspired by nature’s tangibility at Shangri La. The textured foundation reminiscent of layers of worn stone and bedrock throughout the property, while the fluid paint drips streamed from listening to the sound of waves crashing against the shoreline, and seeing rain rushing over the property’s living rocks.

As I shaped the earthen cement surface, I envisioned my ancestors - ancient nomadic peoples crossing mountains and deserts. As I channeled the rain and water, I became the seafaring people whom I also descend from. In these paintings, I honor these primal elements which make up both our planet, and our corporeal bodies, ultimately viewing myself as an extension of humankind’s one true home.

___________________________________

This artwork is part of Sanctuaries, a site-specific installation at the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.