Client
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Completion date: 2021
Project Team
Structural Engineering
Michael Hopkins
Blackwell Engineers
Fabrication
Alex Akbari
Qube Inc
Graphic Design / Drafting
Carol Ann Apilado
Videography
Javier Duenas
The Edisons
Installation
Guy Pavelo
Far Right Productions
Curator
Umbereen Inayet
UI Inc
Art Director
Swizz Beats
Good Intentions
Laser Water Jet Cutting
Tom Loach
CNC Profiles
Painting
Nicolas Sinclair
Dudeman Art
Overview
Illuminated jewel-like sculptures in pools symbolize the planets along the corniche of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Each sculpture is perforated with sacred geometry along with the Divine name of each planetary heaven in Arabic, based on the cosmology of the great Sufi scholar, Ibn al-Arabi. The permanent artworks were installed for the Formula 1 race in December 2021, and will remain a feature of Jeddah's new corniche.Goals
The goal was to express the symbolic meanings of the planets through lamp-like objects, inspired by the notion of the Morrocan lamp. In addition, their placement in pools create reflections in day and night that invite viewers to contemplate the deeper significance of cosmic observation.
Process
The artworks were curated by Umbereen Inayet with Art Direction by Swizz Beats (Good Intentions). They were installed by Far Right Productions in concert with Sela in Saudi Arabia. Fabrication took place in Toronto at my studio in collaboration with Qube Inc (Alex Akbari) with aluminum cutting by CNC Profiles. Graphics and drafting by Carol Ann Apilado and structural engineering by Blackwell.