Feather Project

Feather Project (Details), 2011

Black ink on feathers and a circular mirror
2 meters

The installation is composed of a pile of scripted white feathers resting on a circular mirror. The texts on the feathers are phrases from Sufi poetry that read not only as romantic songs to a lover, but also symbolically celebrates the relationship between God and human. Reflection on the ceiling from the mirror mimics the axis between Heaven and Earth found in Islamic architecture while the feathers serve as messengers of transcendence.

The concept is inspired by an interest in Sufi music and poetry that leads to the experience of non-duality, a sense of unity, which uplifts our spirit beyond perceived knowledge and experience.

Scripted phrases from Sufi poetry on the feathers:

Like the rose, with my whole body I smile and not with my mouth alone;
Because I am, I without I, with the king of the world, alone.

During the night I embrace Your image.
At dawn the fragrance of flowers rises from my bed.

At the moment we saw your sun, we left all particles of dust behind us
On account of that Essence we left all attributes behind us.

My soul and my heart have been captivated by the beauty of the name of God.
My thirsty lips have been comforted by the pure water of the name of God.

All through eternity
Beauty unveils His exquisite form
in the solitude of nothingness;
He holds a mirror to His face
and beholds His own beauty.

He is the knower and the known,
the seer and the seen;
No eye but His own
has ever looked upon this Universe.

Whenever Beauty looks,
Love is also there;
Wherever beauty shows a rosy cheek,

Love lights Her fire from that flame.

We are as the flute, and the music in us is from Thee;
We are as the mountain and the echo in us is from Thee.