Shattered Tessellations
The art of Islamic geometric patterning originates in theories of mysterious and sacred universal harmonies. Circles express the infinite and the endless unity of the universe, whereas squares represent the material world in which everything has a beginning and an end. Madiha Siraj recontextualizes and reinterprets traditional patterns seen across the Islamic world using her chosen medium of polymer clay.
In this series, Siraj takes patterns and shapes that traditionally fit closely together (“tessellated”) and “shatters” the tessellation by interpreting specific aspects of the pattern. The project is part of a larger examination of Islamic patterns and her own identity as a first-generation Pakistani-American.
- Artist: Madiha Siraj
- Installation: December 2022 - April 2023
- Location: Concourse A
Artist Bio: Madiha Siraj is a multimedia artist based in Indianapolis. Her practice is heavily influenced by Islamic geometric patterns and the theoretical foundation on which these patterns were built. By using Islamic geometric patterns as inspiration, Siraj joyfully pays homage to the perfection of God’s universe.
Siraj utilizes acrylic paint and polymer clay––a malleable plasticine clay that is baked at low temperatures to harden it. The dense compositions in her three-dimensional artworks are meant to draw the viewer in, welcoming them to a world of minute detail.
Madiha Siraj is the recipient of multiple awards, has exhibited her work in both solo and group shows locally, in the United States, and in the United Kingdom, and has been featured in numerous publications. She has a B.F.A. in studio practice and a B.A. in Art History, Theory, and Criticism, both from the University of California, San Diego.
www.madihasiraj.com | @madihasirajart | madiha.siraj@gmail.com