Lubna Alfarraj

Contemporary Art Practice (MA)

The continuity of a person is always by following some- thing until he feels stability and purpose of existence. In the Islamic religion, this purpose is found in the Holy Quran. It is a guide to direct the person in his confusion, sadness, and questions. This artwork takes up space in the exhibition in a tilted man- ner, which begs the question: why this tilt? Here is the direction of the Qiblah As when a Muslim finds the direction of the Qiblah wherever he is, it gives him a feeling of stability, balance, and deep connection to religion

At the top of these fractures and dunes we find the verses of the Qur’an, each verse reflected on a piece of glass until it is like the divine answer to all the events of our lives. God created man from clay, and his origin is represented in the sand gathered in this box, and the broken glass is nothing but the experiences of these people, every bottle penetrates this sand and settles in it and creates a deep and lasting impact

sand and glass, representing man and his experiences just as the Qur’an contains our scattering. & At the tip of this arrow, the sand turns into stone! Life blows it around and straightens it in every direction until it has this solid creation, to withstand the winds and remain steadfast. One day, the winds blow it around again (by God’s command), so it becomes sand and returns to its original creation: sand.

The material of this box is rusty and corroded metal, yet it still stands in the shape of an arrow, and it contains

About

Lubna M Alfarraj is an artist born and raised in Saudi Arabia, who works between Riyadh and London. With a background in photography and fine art, this artist’s work mirrors her personal journey, as is evident in her artistic development. She resists confining to a single concept, and instead explores diverse themes in her creations.

The materials used in her work carry profound symbolism. The sandy base alludes to the Qur’anic story of God creating humans from clay. The sand represents origins, while the shards of glass signify life events. Each piece in the sand symbolises how these events leave a significant impact on us. The intrinsic urge to follow in our human DNA offers direction and security. As we age, we seek out things that evoke these feelings. The centrepiece of this project is a sculpture that illustrates the continuity of human life through the act of following others.

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The desert is our beginning…

and the source of our heritage… Whenever we lose our way,

the map of life becomes illuminated… Through following it,

we gain solidity and strength.

My inspiration lies in the sand, which by nature embodies art

الصحراء هي بدايتنا..ومنبع عراقتنا..

وكلما ضللنا الطريق تُضاء لنا خارطة الحياة…

و بإتّباعها نزداد صلابةً وقوة.

و من هُناك وجدت الهامي في الرّمال التي بطبيعتها تحاكي الفن.

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