Navigating Transitions in Liminal Spaces
Location
Alumni Hall North
Department
Art
Abstract
My art celebrates my Islamic heritage and Pakistani culture and is greatly influenced by Islamic patterns and designs. Most of these patterns have a spiritual component and creating them is similar to meditation for me. My artistic practice incorporates a range of media, including glass painting, calligraphy, and oil painting. This exhibit features a unified series of paintings that explores and addresses the concept of liminality. I want to convey the sense of awe that comes with being in the state of liminality—not knowing what lies beyond, waiting for what might come. The term "liminality" refers to an in-between state that is frequently marked by uncertainty; it is the point of transition between two stages. Through this project, I intend to convey my personal experience of being in this state through the use of physical liminal spaces that evoke a sense of liminality. I chose glass painting as my medium for this exhibition because it relates to the concept of liminality; the transparency of the paint and the reflected surface of the plexiglass help in communicating the message I'm attempting to convey. The works in this exhibit feature a diverse range of painting techniques, including geometric, biomorphic, calligraphy, and abstract designs. Non-Western glass painting techniques have been integrated with Western art elements and design principles that I've been learning in my art classes. My process for integrating all of these components begins with sketching out a scene from my memory that resonates with the concept of liminality, followed by researching and selecting patterns and adding colors that are indicative of the memory. I've attempted to capture moments in time that were influenced by my own personal experiences, emotions, and beliefs. I invite viewers to understand the concept and embrace their own transitional experiences, which may help them rediscover themselves.
Faculty Sponsor
Kim Ambriz, Northeastern Illinois University
Navigating Transitions in Liminal Spaces
Alumni Hall North
My art celebrates my Islamic heritage and Pakistani culture and is greatly influenced by Islamic patterns and designs. Most of these patterns have a spiritual component and creating them is similar to meditation for me. My artistic practice incorporates a range of media, including glass painting, calligraphy, and oil painting. This exhibit features a unified series of paintings that explores and addresses the concept of liminality. I want to convey the sense of awe that comes with being in the state of liminality—not knowing what lies beyond, waiting for what might come. The term "liminality" refers to an in-between state that is frequently marked by uncertainty; it is the point of transition between two stages. Through this project, I intend to convey my personal experience of being in this state through the use of physical liminal spaces that evoke a sense of liminality. I chose glass painting as my medium for this exhibition because it relates to the concept of liminality; the transparency of the paint and the reflected surface of the plexiglass help in communicating the message I'm attempting to convey. The works in this exhibit feature a diverse range of painting techniques, including geometric, biomorphic, calligraphy, and abstract designs. Non-Western glass painting techniques have been integrated with Western art elements and design principles that I've been learning in my art classes. My process for integrating all of these components begins with sketching out a scene from my memory that resonates with the concept of liminality, followed by researching and selecting patterns and adding colors that are indicative of the memory. I've attempted to capture moments in time that were influenced by my own personal experiences, emotions, and beliefs. I invite viewers to understand the concept and embrace their own transitional experiences, which may help them rediscover themselves.