Cells Sculpture

Each unit in this piece is formed of a word in the geometric kufic script, cut out and folded into a "cell". The word is khaliya خلية, from a root which means “void, empty space”, and refers to the cell, both in the body or in the beehive. It is a close relative to khalwa خلوة, the monk’s cell or hermit’s retreat. The beehive is the dominant note for this modular piece, which evokes simultaneously the cells filled with honey and the flowers that provided it. The geometry is relieved by the irregular gradation of the colours and by the variation within each hue. At the centre, an empty space reminds us of the core meaning of the word; the whole piece is in itself one cell. The piece finds its full expression once it hangs on a wall, as the light can then draw shadows that change constantly throughout the day.