Raheem-Rahima
Wanting to bring comfort to others through my artworks, I realised I took myself out of the picture. This project was made for myself, giving myself the comfort I wanted. This time I am tapping into my religion as I thought that it should be something that I should have found comfort in.
This work is currently being exhibited at The Straits Gallery for the When Cattails Grow exhibition show during the period of May 2023. (2 May 2023 - 28 May 2023.)
Raheem-Rahima is a minimal fabric work of a prayer mat. Taking notice of how I always strive to bring comfort to others, I realised that I took myself out of the picture. Now I would like to explore what gives myself comfort in Islam. Going back to the basics of prayer, I wanted to bring out one of the 99 names of Allah swt, Ar-Raheem which means “the most Merciful”.
With the colour choice of the threads, I represent Allah swt with the reds and yellows of the sunset/sunrise and myself with blues of the rain. Like the rain during this twilight hour, I prostrate to the ground to my Creator asking for forgiveness and mercy.