Every year I choose a word, 2024 the word was Embrace.
After my amazing collaboration with University of Dhaka , this February, I returned to London to attend the inaugural launch of the Kings Lodge at the Connaught Hotel in London, where the miniature paintings I prepared are installed now in the royal apartments. It was a memorable evening reuniting with colleagues from my university and also trustees of Turquoise Mountain Trust.
In February I was honoured to collaborate with Nelson Ferreira at the kind invitation of University of Dhaka, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Drawing and Painting, where Professor Mohammad Iqbal arranged for us to deliver the first ever Indo Persian Miniature painting. You will find here some images of the work done by students. With literally four days of work the students were able to deliver some amazing work. We went in the middle of Swaraswati Puja, a Bengal Hindu festival during which all university students get together to create a carnival of festivities and the pictures tell a few stories of that magical time. The talent in Bangladesh is incredible.
The students were presented with certificates of completion and it was a highly successful workshop where I look forward to return at the invitation of the department.
We also had time to spend with family and friends and worthwhile causes like Protibha, part of the charities started by Its Humanity Foundation, where my daughter spent a day with local children and I look forward to 2025 with all the exciting projects we will do together with Its Humanity Foundation and Protibha
Traditional Ateliers also completed 10 years and as an anniversary present I thought we deserved a logo. Click the logo above to see the video about our logo story.
The right hand image is called the Burdah named after the famous poetry salutations by Imam Al Busiri, a 13th century Sufi sheikh. It is a tribute to the honour the alchemic journey the spirit takes and is entirely made with hand ground natural pigments, from the earth to the sea. With indigo, spirulina, and French earth, they represent the green for the Prophet (sallallahu alaihewasallam), indigo as a symbol of purification from impure to pure matter, and finally the bole or earth represents the Yemeni red that was a favourite of Rasulallah (pbuh). The painting was exhibited at the Kings Foundation exhibition in the summer and now is exhibiting in Indonesia at the Istiqlal Mosque courtesy of the The Bukhari Creative Group Alhamdulillah until February 2025
Also 2024 was the year I was able to launch my signature course and it is a labour of love with a wonderful cohort of students who are building and developing the course for me. Called the Tao of Islamic Art, it has been my dream to start teaching sacred geometry within the Islamic context and to teach it in the way it should be taught with multidisciplinary holistic approach. The image takes you to a short clip of classes at the moment.
Also 2024 was the year I was able to launch my signature course and it is a labour of love with a wonderful cohort of students who are building and developing the course for me. Called the Tao of Islamic Art, it has been my dream to start teaching sacred geometry within the Islamic context and to teach it in the way it should be taught with multidisciplinary holistic approach. The image takes you to a short clip of classes at the moment.
Alhamdulillah it has been a busy and productive year through all the difficulties and strifes one has to navigate. I pray that 2025 coinciding with the first of Rajab brings us peace and prosperity, harmony and cohesion with much needed unity. Sending positive wishes to all and seeking duas, seeking Allah's Blessings and Protection for us all. Ameen
