Mourning , 2014
to be displayed on adjacent walls so that the viewer may experience both pieces alone and at once.
It was a time when I couldn’t make art. The Gaza massacre reportedly from July - August 2014 (I believe it started earlier). My heart bleeds for Gaza hence the name “Mourning”. By November I felt I had to make something and these two prayers stood out to me in my little prayer book (see translations below). While I do not expect all my viewers to read or understand Arabic, the images themselves are what is important and the emotion the viewer gets from being around these pieces.
Mourning 1
acrylic on fabric , 50” x 50”
Condolence Prayer “Verily everything belongs to Allah that He hath taken away, And belongs to Allah that He hath given. Allah is with him for an appointed time; forbear and expect reward."
Mourning 2
acrylic on fabric , 36” x 50”
Prayer said before going to sleep "Oh Allah! With Your name I die and I live."
2017 Dunya , Pop-up , Chicago IL
2015 Second Friday , The Black Couch , Chicago IL