New York, 2023. In At the Gate of Dawn, the beggar’s bowl, or kashkul, serves as a symbolic vessel in exploring the Sufi way of asking, a practice centered on humility and detachment from worldly concerns. The historical replicas bowl reflects a traditional Sufi approach to life, where asking is both a spiritual practice of hollowing oneself. By holding out the kashkul, the beggar exemplifies openness to the divine in others, inviting generosity while imparting a sense of unity and shared responsibility.

 

Notions of self-emptying and containment have been on my mind in this age of global polycrisis. This methodology, which involves setting aside the ego to be receptive to others' generosity, challenges perspectives of accumulation in the age of anxiety and emphasizes vulnerability.

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On Luster Glazes:

I began my research four months before the exhibition, and I experimented with test tile spheres, achieving promising results. The luster glaze process demanded control over firing temperatures and atmospheres to capture its unique reflective qualities. I created a distinctive, iridescent finish that honors the alchemical roots of ceramic art and Arabic cultural influence. 

By encouraging viewers to come closer to see their reflection in this vessel, I am suggesting a pathway to bridging social separations through mindful asking and receiving as a counter-narrative.

Bonus Bowl

This is a Majolica glaze on top of a porcelain body, a material culture little joke.