TOPOPHILIA
The following is my thesis work that focuses on themes of topophilia—an inherent connection to places and environments. As I transition from one location to another, I am deeply drawn to the emotive and sensory qualities each place holds. My work documents these experiences through by compositions and altering perspectives, resulting in imaginary ‘mind palaces’ layered with personal reflections.
Some compositions are enclosed in a traditional oval format inspired by Mughal manuscripts, typically reserved for portraits of royals and notable figures, adding a layer of significance to the depiction of these spaces.
The video installation was created during the COVID-19 outbreak. Isolation provided me the opportunity to observe how light influences our perception of surroundings. Natural light, from dawn to dusk, transforms a space through its varying intensities and hues, profoundly affecting our mood, feelings, and energy. The video presents the compositions under the light conditions of a 24-hour cycle.
Additionally, I documented several locations through an installation of 10 hand-painted postcards, intended to be shared and passed along, person to person, as pieces of my journey. Suspended at different levels, these postcards cast subtle shadows on one another, symbolizing the interplay between the tangible and intangible.
Chao-rganized | 2020 | watercolour, gouache, graphite, ink, photo transfer & collage on wasli | 10.2 x 11 in
Cycle | 2021 | watercolour, gouache, graphite, photo transfer, ink & collage on wasli | 11 x 11 in
Tea | 2020 | watercolour, gouache, graphite, tea stain, ink & collage on wasli | 8 x 17 in
Humid | 2021 | found paper waste on wasli | 9 x 11 in
Family Photo | A series of 6 | 2020 | Gouache, graphite & watercolour on wasli | 5 x 7 inches, each
24 Hours | 2021 | video installation | 44 sec
The Postcards, 2020-21 (An installation of 10 frames), Mixed media on handmade paper, 4 x 6 in, each.
Second image
Video link
Photo I
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Individual postcard images
Untitled | 2020 | watercolour, gouache, graphite, tea stain, ink & collage on wasli | 20 x 30 in
I N Q U I R E
10TH ANNUAL RAK FINE ARTS FESTIVAL
I had the privilege of showcasing my Postcards series at this festival, held at Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village on February 4, 2022. The event marked both RAKFAF’s 10th anniversary and the UAE’s 50th National Day. Centered around the theme The Journey, the festival explored concepts of personal growth, ancestry, national identity, and migration, inviting local and international artists to share their interpretations. The exhibition was curated by Suqrat Bin Bisher, Azza Al Nuaimi, and Ji Young Kim, with satellite exhibitions at Jebel Jais and Al Marjan Island.
In the series, I documented several locations through an installation of 10 hand-painted postcards (4 x 6 inches, each, mixed media on wasli), intended to be shared and passed along, person to person, as pieces of my journey. Suspended at different levels, these postcards cast subtle shadows on one another, symbolizing the interplay between the tangible and intangible.
