Fascinated with language and the intricacies of geometric Islamic design, Lulwah Al Homoud made a name for herself creating works derived from these very ideas. The Saudi artist, who currently lives between Dubai and London, became known for breaking the rules of language, designing abstract pieces using calligraphy and geometry to create a new vocabulary of her own.
But the dichotomy of existence is much more central to her work. Al Homoud digs deep into themes of religion and inner truths—exploring the rhetoric between substance, essence and fate through communication. The way Al Hamoud sees it, the best way to understand something is to deconstruct it, adding: “what is most incongruous in this discourse is what is most convergent within it: communication. Using a pure language, this work locks together geometry, faith and beauty, pushing the boundaries of what we know, how we know it and how it is perceived”.
Her work has been shown all over the world, with pieces hanging on the walls of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and Germany’s Museum Five Continents. Her latest solo exhibition, entitled Beyond The Grid is set to be held at Dubai-based gallery Tabari Artspace, where it will showcase both new and existing works, including 50 silkscreens from her famed series 99 names of God.
In the series, the Central Saint Martins graduate used both Islamic and Western mathematics to construct Arabic letters that ultimately represented the 99 names of God—making for intricately beautiful abstract pieces that at first glance feel like optical illusions.
Beyond The Grid, 30 April – 28 June at Tabari ArtSpace, Dubai
