Al Asfar | الاسفار | Journey

“We are not objects of existence but an act of existence . . . a gradation of reality” – Mulla Sadra Shirazi


For this exhibition, Narjis Mirza creates an immersive space, one where we can experience the power of light. Her project explores what it means to be more fully aware of light, patterns, geometry and repetition. She uses Kufic calligraphy in her installation work, one of the earliest forms of Arabic writing to create a space of infinite shadows.
 The title of the exhibition Asfar translates from Arabic as a journey. This installation is inspired by Asfār al-’Aqlīya al-Arba’a ‘The Four Journeys of the Intellect’, by Mulla Sadra, one of the most important philosophers in the Muslim world. For Sadra, ‘being’ is in constant flux, ‘to be’ is a journey, an act, and an experience.

Asfar | Journey at Corban Rstate Arts Center, Auckland