1001

12x12 - Black Ink

This piece utilizes the Arabic script to recreate the infamous story of 1001 nights or Alf laylah wa laylah, الف ليلة وليلة. The woman in the scene is Scheherazade, swirling her stories into the air with the sultan pondering in the rear. This piece shows the power she has over the Sultan, with her larger than life presence in the foreground. Her stories come out through the tendrils of her hair forming clouds with their own storylines.

Arabic is read from right to left, so taking the first word, you can match the الف with her arm and on down. Following Scheherazade’s arm down through her body then up through her head and hair to the sky. The text twisting into wild shapes and striations, creating the (engaging) stories she is telling. From right to left, you will see Sinbad’s ship, the sultan’s palace and last the genie, with the magic lamp.