Hafsa Murtaza, Allah's Light is Like a Lamp Within a Niche, 2024
Waterless lithograph and chine-collé
11 in x 15 in
Using waterless lithography, I created an image that blends abstraction, mimetic representation and different perspectival planes to represent the Quranic verse that Allah’s light is like a lamp within a niche. Most prayer mats depict stylized oil lamps hanging from an arch to signify this verse; this motif repeats within a linear perspectival grid at the base of the print. Seemingly suspended, yet not aligning with the linear perspectival lines, is an iwan–a three-sided room with an arched opening–lit by a hanging lamp. Repeated and overlaid outlines of trees place the iwan structure and prayer mat designs within a forest setting. Abstracted swirling lines signify darkness emitting away from the lamp that illuminates the forest.
The waterless lithograph chine-collé prints have two different colour variations: one with white washi laminated onto a grey paper border and a tan Gampi washi print overlaid onto cream paper.
Hafsa Murtaza, Allah's Light is Like a Lamp Within a Niche, 2024
Waterless lithograph and chine-collé
11 in x 15 in