Infinite Geometry

Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Something Old Something New  1974

Nabil Nahas, Eclypse  1978

Eclypse signals Nahas' interest in abstraction and its relationship to principles of geometric patterning such as infinite repetition and cyclical movement. The artist was inspired by naturally occurring crystalline structures, as well as medieval buildings and textile designs from Cairo, Egypt. He has said "my work is about observing nature in the multiplicity of its dimensions, from microcosm to macrocosm—without forgetting to look at my immediate surroundings." Nahas’ paintings from this period are filled with multi-coloured shapes and arrangements along different planes. They might suggest the intersection of celestial bodies, or the passing of light into shadow.

Gallery label, November 2021

Rasheed Araeen, 3Y 3B  1969

3Y 3B is a large, horizontally oriented painted wooden sculpture by the British-Pakistani artist Rasheed Araeen. The work is composed of six rectangular wooden lattice framework structures, three painted yellow and the other three blue, which are arranged vertically and screwed onto a sheet of hardboard. The hardboard is painted and divided into two halves – the left side, on which the three yellow lattice structures are mounted, is painted blue, and the right side, onto which the three blue framework structures are affixed, is painted yellow. The sculpture hangs from the wall by a series of mirror plates attached to its reverse.

Saloua Raouda Choucair, Poem Wall  1963–5

From the early 1960s Choucair created sculptures consisting of interlocking pieces. She was inspired by qasida, a modular form of Arabic poetry. Individual stanzas have their own identity, while still contributing to the unity of the whole poem. Choucair thought of her works as ‘sculptural poems’. She explained: ‘I wanted rhythm like the poetic meter, to be at once more independent and interlinked, and to have lines like meanings, but plastic meanings.’ Informed by theories of quantum physics and Islamic theology, her works invite the viewer to imagine alternative compositions. These are suggested by the visible points of intersection between separate sculptural forms.

Gallery label, November 2021

Saleem Arif Quadri, Landscape of Longing  1997–9

Landscape of Longing refers to Arif Quadri’s interest in spiritual quests and journeys. It evokes a map seen from above. Arif Quadri describes the work as ‘a celebration of life with all its inexplicable mysteries’. He relates the painted forms to the sinuous strokes of Islamic calligraphy. The shapes between and around each form are important to the artist. They suggest figurative elements such as female and male figures, or pods and birds. Arif Quadri is influenced by texts ranging from Sufi writings to work by Dante, the 13th century Italian poet.

Gallery label, June 2021