What If The Circle Disappeared
Ink on Paper
120 X 90 CM
2015
In this work, Al-Salem is questioning what effect the possible non-existence of the circle may have had, using calligraphy as a vehicle for exploring social and religious questions. In Arabic culture, the circle is used as a way of social ordering—families eat seating on the floor, in a circular form; prayer and movement around the Ka’aba is done in a circular motion, even the steps within prayer movements are cyclical and hence, circular in nature. In Islam, the circle is considered to be the beginning and end of every shape, it is the initiator for a myriad different geometric forms used throughout Islamic art. It is also the basis for the instrument used to study the sky, before the world was acknowledged as being round in form. Nasser uses the original Kussi font with this, with the absence of dots from the lettering used to change or adapt the pronunciation and meaning of the words. The form of this font is difficult to master, the artist uses it both as a challenge to his calligraphic skills but also, as a simple way of exploring how something so basic can be so instrumental to the development of society, the impact of religion and consequently, the work becomes a comment on cause and effect leading to the state of the world today.
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