Nazira Bibi
Nazira is a fully qualified science teacher, who recently graduated with an MA in Visual Islamic and Traditional Arts at the Princes Foundation: School of Traditional Arts, in London. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is in private collections around the world, including the permanent collection at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, after being acquired by the Albukhary Foundation.
Nazira's work mainly comprises of Islamic geometry in a contemporary and abstract setting and seeks to explore the meeting of science and spirituality. Geometry is an ancient and universal discipline that combines science, mathematics and art with deep spirituality, symbolism and meditation; a perfect fit for her own background and current journey.
Nazira's work employs traditional techniques and uses materials such as hand made paper, natural pigments, slate and pure gold leaf. She is heavily influenced by nature, science, the cosmos and the journey of the soul. Her work juxtaposes raw textured backgrounds with precise geometric constructions as she seeks to explore intersections between chaos and harmony, the inner and outer selves, destruction and rebirth.
The Seen & the Unseen 2017
Nazira Bibi
23.5k shell gold on indigo-dyed wasli paper
Combining the visual aesthetics of the Big Bang, an eclipse and geometry, this piece centres on the idea that in essence, both scientist and spiritual seeker are always stood before the eclipse.
They observe the visible, in order to find hidden truths.
The scientist seeks truths within the material world, whereas the spiritual seeker contemplates on these visible phenomena to find insights into the metaphysical realm.
The Seen and the Unseen 2017
Felucca to the Stars 2018 *(see below)
Nazira Bibi
23.5k shell gold on indigo-dyed wasli paper
The soul’s relationship to the universe and how it is linked to the inherent order within, provides spiritual ease and contentment to the heart when we allow the two to resonate as one.
This piece pays homage to those who set sail to foreign lands, the Muslim astronomers and adventurers who sought meaning when contemplating the stars.
The piece depicts the soul as a felucca (a small sailboat commonly seen on the Nile), flying full-sail, in complete surrender and submission into the cosmos.
*Please note this piece is not for sale but commissions are available
Felucca to the Stars 2018 *(Commission available)
The Water Cycle 2018
Nazira Bibi
23.5k shell gold on indigo-dyed wasli paper
Entropy is a measure of how much order or disorder a system has. Referencing the cyclical changes that water goes through, this piece explores inner transformation and the bringing of order to one’s soul through meditation.
In all sufi practices, the essential drive is to work from one’s outer state, inwards. In this piece we move from turmoil, via repetitive meditation (the ripples) to the calm inner sea: the illuminate self. In reality we fluctuate between these shores throughout life (as emphasised by the ripples).
The Water Cycle 2018
The Affirmation 2018
Nazira Bibi
23.5k shell gold on indigo-dyed wasli paper
Inspired by the cosmos, these pieces explore ideas of language, searching for truth and of preconception. Scientific endeavour is rooted in the need to remove bias in order to come to the truth untarnished by one’s own expectations and experiences.
The Negation highlights the true point of departure as it is about cleansing the slate before become the student. Allowing nature to reveal itself to us. The Affirmation is the discovery of the truth. This reflects deeply the Shahādā which states ‘There is no god, but Allāh’.
There is an emptying of the soul, a clean vessel now, ready to receive the Truth.
The Affirmation 2018
The Soul of the Universe 2018
Nazira Bibi
23.5k shell gold on indigo-dyed wasli paper
The third piece in the triptych (together with The Negation and The Affirmation) is based on a quote by Rumi:
The soul, of the soul of the universe, is Love.
Far from being in a state of reaction, our mission as Muslims is to actualise and exemplify beauty in our character, and to radiate out Love.
All the pieces are constructed in the guise of constellations which are a self constructed alphabet. This piece spells out the words soul, universe and love (the letters in the word love are all superimposed upon one another in the centre).
The Soul of the Universe 2018
The Negation 2018
Nazira Bibi
23.5k shell gold on indigo-dyed wasli paper
Inspired by the cosmos, these pieces explore ideas of language, searching for truth and of preconception. Scientific endeavour is rooted in the need to remove bias in order to come to the truth untarnished by one’s own expectations and experiences.
The Negation highlights the true point of departure as it is about cleansing the slate before become the student. Allowing nature to reveal itself to us. The Affirmation is the discovery of the truth. This reflects deeply the Shahādā which states ‘There is no god, but Allāh’.
There is an emptying of the soul, a clean vessel now, ready to receive the Truth.
The Negation 2018