Illumination Madaniat Al Hijrah

2012

Gold lead tea pomegranate
Dupont Chinese ink crystals
Offset X-Ray print and mixed media on archival Arche paper

60 × 40 cm

Like its title, this series irradiates apparent binaries. Mater blends the past, represented by traditional Islamic arts, with the present, through the innovations of modern medicine. He also brings together two subjects that are often treated as essentially separate and full of tense contradictions: faith and science.

“It is designed to be like the opening pages to a religious text. But much larger. Originally the craftsmen would spend a great deal of time on these pages. They’re the first thing you see. Instead of a traditional geometry, I have printed two facing X-ray images of human torsos. I prepared the paper using tea, pomegranate, coffee and other materials traditionally used on these pages. By using them you ensure that when you come to paint onto the paper it will have an extraordinarily luminous quality – the paint will truly shine. And that’s what I want to do with this piece, to illuminate. I am giving light. It’s about two humans in conversation. Us and Them. Dar a luz. So many religions around the world share this concept of giving light, not darkness – it is an idea that has reached mankind through many different windows.”

Ahmed Mater

2008

"It’s about two humans in conversation. Us and Them. Dar a luz. So many religions around the world share this concept of giving light, not darkness – it is an idea that has reached mankind through many different windows.”
Ahmed Mater
2008
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