In the presence of self

In the Presence of Self (al-nafs) is grounded in repetition as both a meditative process and a quiet act of resistance, drawing on the spiritual tradition of dhikr (remembrance). The work invites viewers into a space of tazkiyah (purification and contemplation), where the act of creation becomes ritual, discipline, and inner refinement. The artist's practice is deeply introspective, shaped by Islamic mysticism, memory, and identity. It seeks to uncover an internal order of things—an unseen structure governing both the spiritual and material self. Central to this inquiry is the nafs (self), which exists in constant negotiation between the qalb (heart) and the 'aql (intellect) in pursuit of purifying the ruh (spirit). The interplay of light, pattern, and soundless resonance draws upon sacred geometry to generate visual echoes projecting nur (divine light). Symmetry, unfolding proportions, and ideas of infinity express a divine order extending beyond the visible world, where mathematics becomes a bridge between the seen and unseen. The tetraktys—a triangular formation of ten connecting points—embodies principles of cosmic harmony, spatial order, and mathematical unity.