Bibliocircuitry Project What is sacred/Women, Culture, and politics.
For this project, I was focused on the Maker Anila Quayyum Agha. She is a Pakistani-American who makes art about a number of important subjects like; religion, gender and social roles, the feeling of alienation, culture, etc. She does this in multiple formats with sculpture work and 2D works. Her sculpture works are often made to be light/shadow boxes that show sacred geometry patterns on the walls and ceilings of the areas in which they are displayed. I chose to display/embroider a specific sacred geometry symbol known as the Merkaba - it is used in multiple ways for meditative and religious purposes. It has many meanings that I felt were specifically in line with some of Agha's concepts; balance (especially between male and female aspects), belonging, protection, and making connections on multiple levels.
I used these processes mainly for the purpose that they are directly in conversation with the original artists works and processes. I also used them so that the viewer is able to view in both spaces with and without light. Creating multiple ways for someone to interact with my piece was highly important, I wanted the experience to be as immersive as the viewer wants - if they want to view it as an art piece, that is fine; however, if they wish to interact and look at the small book created, that is also encouraged.
I had some minimal drawbacks in trying to create an embroidered bit of sacred geometry within paper-mache - but in changing needle and thread sizes multiple time, I was able to fix that. I also had to troubleshoot the micro-controller experience. I found that using multiple lights on the micro-controller actually made the shadows overlap and create a shape on the walls, instead of the pattern.