A glowing globe of hand-stitched prayer caps headlines ‘Nurun ‘ala Nur (Light Upon Light)’, Australian artist Abdullah M. I. Syed’s current show at Aicon Gallery. Positioned over a water-like, reflective blue surface, the light sculpture imitates a full moon, associating the sublime beauty of a celestial body with personal and group devotion. (On view through March 6th).
Monira Al Qadiri’s video ‘Travel Prayer’ combines footage of a camel race with the text of a traditional prayer for travel. Once, children were regularly injured and trafficked to race the animals, now camels are directed remotely by robot jockeys with mini whips. The prayers request for traveling mercy is powerfully apt. (At Station Independent Projects through July 23rd).
