LULWAH AL-HOMOUD (B. 1967), THE LANGUAGE OF EXISTENCE I

each signed Lulwah in Arabic and dated and numbered 2018, 24/25 in English (lower edge)

silkscreen print on archival paper; in 49 parts, encased in Artist's limited edition portfolio 

Sheet (each): 39.9 by 30 cm. 15 ¾ by 11 ¾ in.

Portfolio: 43.4 by 5.5 by 32.5 cm. 17 by 2 ¼ by 12 ¾ in.

Executed in 2018; this work is number 24 from an edition of 25. 

Lulwah Al-Homoud was born in Riyadh in 1967. She studied Sociology at the King Saud University in Riyadh before relocating to London where she obtained her MA from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London. Al Homoud’s work is recognised for its minimalist, abstract compositions that employ Arabic calligraphy as a vessel to explore Islamic philosophy to result in intricate, abstract works on paper. She studied the mathematical codes behind the alphabet to deconstruct them to their most essential forms to inform her geometric designs. With this knowledge, Al Homoud devised unique systems of expression that also draw on the Western influences of Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian. She received her calligraphic training with Pakistani calligrapher Rasheed Butt and takes great inspiration from Egyptian calligrapher Ahmed Moustafa. Al Homoud’s output, as a result, commonly aims to unmask the boundaries of knowledge through the beauty of geometric laws. The present work makes reference to the 99 names recognised in Islam for Allah. She has been the subject of regular solo exhibitions, such as her most recent presentation ‘Space Within Light’ held at Dar Al Funoon, Kuwait (2020), and was included in the group exhibition ‘Reflections: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa’ at the British Museum (2021).