An Adornment of Stars
Video installation on loop.
3 X 3 M
SAC, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2014
SPHÈRES, galleria continua, paris, france
2014
Islamic Arts Festival , Sharjah Museum
2015
When Nasser Al Salem observed the Moallaqat that surrounded the Kaaba, the first thing that occurred to him was that there were seven of them, which led him to immediately draw a parallel with the Tawaf, the circumambulation of the Ka’ba, which must be performed 7 times. Nasser wondered if this was coincidental, and began to ask himself, “Why the number 7?” This led Al Salem on a chain of observations, as is the custom with his practice, for all his work results from the fruits of his observations and where they lead him in those particular moments of his life, not necessarily from any already existing convictions. He began by contemplating the obvious, and asked himself, why Tawaf? Why these circular circumambulations? And again, why 7 times? He wondered if they were meant to mirror the universe; how the earth rotates around itself; how the moon rotates around the earth; how both rotate around the sun, all moving at a perfect pace, like one massive miracle of mechanical engineering, like clockwork, from the structure of the atom, to beyond the limits of our the known universe. It occurred to Nasser that all exists as we know it as a result of a very fine and delicate but in fact perfect balance. If one little thing in the grand scheme of things were to be not exactly as it is now, would everything be the same? Would we even exist? Is it so egotistical to so much as wonder if the entire universe is geared towards our existence? “I must say I do feel somewhat inadequate as I contemplate questions that many a scientist, physicist, astronomer and philosopher has contemplated before me, most certainly with much more fruitful results. All I can do is what I always do during times of confusion or uncertainty; I look to the Qur’an for answers.” Verses in order of smallest circle to largest (Source: www.quran.com): 1. “or [anything] smaller than that or greater” (Yunus, 61) 2. “a guidance for the worlds” (Al-Imran, 96) 3. “nor does the night overtake the day” (Ya-Sin, 40) 4. “And the moon - We have determined for it phases” (Ya-Sin, 39) 5. “And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point” (Ya-Sin 38) 6. “each, in an orbit, is swimming” (Ya-Sin, 40) 7. “Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars” (Al-Saffat, 6)