Relief Art projects of Jalal Gilani:
Relief is a sculptural technique where the sculpted elements remain attached to a solid background of the same material. Jalal has used relief technique with combination of abstract colors in most of his work. Below you enjoy some of his relief art projects.
Door of Knowledge
Type: Relief art on hardboard
Media: Earthenware clay with glaze and oil on hardboard
Size: 36X24
Description: In Islamic architecture, door plays an important symbolic role determined by its form, scale and the inscription on it. In this relief art, the artist has sculpted a door and inscribed one of the iconic hadith of Prophet Muhammad (S.A), in which Prophet referred Hazer Ali (S.A) as the door of knowledge. “Ana Madinatul Ilm wa Ali Babuha” Means: I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its door. By calling back to the past, the work seeks to connect to the theme of the legacy of the Imamat and what it stands for in the eyes of the Prophet and how it relates to our lives.
This work sculpted with earthenware clay. Fired twice at cone temperature of 04 for optimum hardness and glazed in between firing process.
Ninaanvay
"Ninaanvay," which means Ninety-nine. Ninety-nine names of Allah have painted in square Kufic script on 32x32 hardboard. On top of the script, I have added Ninety-nine pieces of colorful glasses. These pieces of glasses fused together in six segments of heat up to 1,400 °C (2,552 °F) in a square pattern. Glass is installed above the canvas level that brings colorful shadows through natural light. Colorful shadows depict the light (Nur) of the creator. From developing an idea to installation, this project took me almost the whole year.
"NAQSH"
In Islamic art and architecture, the geometrical pattern plays an important symbolic role determined by its form, scale, and inscription on it. In this contemporary relief art, the continuous repetition of design symbolizes the Islamic concept of remembrance of the infinite nature of God through Zikr or Tasbeeh. Artist has drawn a fourfold pattern with geometrical calculation and hand-painted with heavy body acrylic paint on hardboard. The square Plaxieglass in the middle highlights the composition of design that visually communicate how the pattern was constructed.
"Naqsh" means pattern, impression.
Heavy body acrylic on 36X36 hardboard.
Salwaat:
"Salawaat" in square Kufic script. Which contains the salutation upon the prophet and prophet's progeny. "Allahumma Salli `Ala Muhammadin Wa Ala Muhammad".
Digital prints are available at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/jalal-gilani
Title: Seek
Type: Relief art on hardboard
Media: Earthenware clay and graphite
Size: 36X24
This piece combines a traditional sculpted object with a graphite drawing on a canvas board. The fountain pen was sculpted with porcelain clay and placed on a flat surface, which holds a graphite drawing on paper. The pen represents a perfect teacher, and the shadow of steps towards the door (created with graphite) represents the true path.
Ordinary eyes can see only a flat shadow, but those who seek wisdom it will see true reality. "Seek the wisdom that will untie your knot - seek the path that demands your whole being" (Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi).
Bismillah
Calligraphy on drywall "Bismillah" sculpted with gypsum mud on 24 X 48 drywall panel.
b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful."
ILM, Knowledge
Title: ILM, January 2018
Type: Relief art on hardboard
Media: Earthenware clay with glaze and oil on hardboard.
Size: 36X48
Description: Inspired by the importance of seeking knowledge in Islam, artist has designed, crafted, and laser cut acrylic glass in kufic script. Glass and the pen at the bottom of the script painted with acrylic blue. This artwork represents Surah Ta-Ha, 20:114, “Rabbi zidni ilma” means, “O my Lord! Advance me in my knowledge.” and seek to connect with the theme of the enduring “Legacy” laid out by those who came before us: seek knowledge, and do so without restraint.
ILM, Knowledge (2nd Version)
This artwork is the second version of painting "ILM" means knowledge. This time I spray painted the Kufic script crafted on plexiglass with four different colors to give a touch of pop art. The pen at the bottom of the script decorated with acrylic blueThis artwork represents Surah Ta-Ha, 20:114, “Rabbi zidni ilma” means, “O my Lord! Advance me in my knowledge.” and seek to connect with the theme of the enduring “Legacy” laid out by those who came before us: seek knowledge, and do so without restraint.
Type: Sculpture
Media: Earthenware clay
"Waqul Rabbi zidni ilma" (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:114) O my Lord! Advance me in my Knowledge.
Around 3000 BC, The Egyptians developed a form of writing on papyrus scrolls using reed pens. Inspired by the past, I have sculpted a surface for writing and a calligraphy pen using moist porcelain clay. This creation represents how each time one puts a pen to paper, it is a testament to the enduring legacy laid out by those who came before us: seek knowledge, and do so without restraint.
Ghadeer
Title: Ghadeer, January 2018, 48X36
Type: Relief art on hardboard
Media: Earthenware clay with glaze and oil on hardboard.
Description:This artwork depicts the event of Ghadir Khumm, in which on return from Hajj pilgrimage at a place called Ghadir Khum, the Holy Prophet (s) introduced Imam Ali (a) as his vicegerent and people's guardian after himself. “Man Kunto Maula Fahaza Ali Un Maula” means He of whom I am the mawla, of him Ali is also the mawla.” By calling back to the past, the work seeks to connect to the theme of time and Shi'a beliefs.
This work sculpted with earthenware clay. Fired twice at cone temperature of 04 for optimum hardness and glazed with two coats in between firing process. On background, there are forty-nine (49) octagons depicts the continuity of Imamat since first Imam Hazrat Ali (a). Different sizes of each octagon represent one of the beliefs of Shi'a Ismaili Muslims that the guidance of the Imam change according to the times and circumstances.
Ilm (Knowledge)
A repeated pattern in square Kufic script created using open source application Ink-scape.
It says Rabbi zidni ilma O my Lord! Advance me in Knowledge [surah Ta-Ha; 20:114] رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا