Al-Awirjan
Term: Summer 2021
Artist in Residence
Organization / Musume: Al Sadu House - Kuwait, Kuwait City.
"Shooting Al-Awirjan" is an installation that delves into the complexities of connectivity by exploring sadu motifs, examining the geometric language and inherent patterns that bridge form and meaning. Ahmad centers his focus on the Al-Uwairjan and Al-Shajarah motifs, highlighting their layered connections and intersections, both in their structural geometry and symbolic function. Through this work, Ahmad reveals how the weaver, inspired by the vast desert landscape, creates intricate motifs that defy the boundaries of connectivity, intertwining reflection and repetition in ways that invite new interpretations. Each line, crossing, and shape speaks to a tradition where connectivity is not merely a visual effect but a meaningful, tactile experience that embodies both the continuity of heritage and the vast, open space of creative possibility.
4m x 4m structure
Aluminum, iron, wool threads, and soil
Initial study and research
Inspired by the fluidity and flow within the structured geometry of the Al-Shajarah motif, Ahmad explores the intriguing balance of connectivity and isolation embedded within its design. This tension became the foundation of his work, where he bridges past and present by reimagining Al-Shajarah through renewable, contemporary materials like aluminum and iron. By retaining traditional elements, he defines spaces that shift between public and private, using suspended, naturally dyed threads to articulate these boundaries. His use of desert soil adds a tactile dimension, evoking the motif’s roots in the desert landscape and re-conceptualizing its essence within modern, immersive forms. Through this synthesis, Ahmad offers a dialogue between heritage and innovation, transforming Al-Shajarah into a spatial experience that honors its origins while inviting new interpretations.
