"Isra || إسراء"

Light Sculpture 

Timescale:     2 weeks

Design & Assembly:        Khaled AlWarea

Dimensions:                    Base: 60*60*60 cm, Height: 110 cm

Exhibition:  Haven for Artist's "For the love of the arts" 
May12th 2016 
Station Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon 

 

"Isra || إسراء" is a sculpture made of rusted steel and Arabic poetry.

 

After cutting the pieces on a Laser-cutter, I  accelerated the oxidizing process by adding salt and bleach to the water and overlaid the pieces on each other throughout the process to create unique patterns in the rust.

   

The verses I used are from "The moon poem" to the Arabic poet Imra’ ul-Qais.

Imra’ ul-Qais was an Arabic poet in the 6th century AD He is sometimes considered the father of Arabic poetry.

Legend has it that some of the verses found in the Islamic holy book "Al-Quran" were influenced by his poetry. 

 

دنت الساعةُ وانشقَّ القمر        عن غزالٍ صاد قلبي ونفر

عادةُ الأقمارِ تسري في الدجى        فرأيتُ الليلَ يسري بالقمر
بالضحى والليلِ من طُرَّته      فَرْقه ذا النورِ كم شيء زَهر.

امرؤ القيس

 

 

The piece name "Isra || إسراء" is called after one part of a Night Journey that, according to Islam, the prophet, Muhammad, took during a single night around the year 621. It has been described as both a physical and spiritual journey.[1] A brief sketch of the story is in surah al-Isra of the Quran,[2] and other details come from the hadith, collections of the reports of the teachings, deeds and sayings of Muhammad. In the Isra part of the journey, Muhammad travels on the steed Buraq to "the farthest mosque" where he leads other prophets in prayer. He then ascends to heaven in the Mi'raj journey where he speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer. This remembrance of this journey is one of the most significant events in the Islamic calendar.[3]