The Journey from God to Creatures by God

The Journey from God to Creatures by God, 2017Gouache on variously treated paper
120 x 80 cm

2D

(The journey in how pluralities were emanated from the unity or the observation of the stages of the creatures from the highest to the lowest)

Based on a manuscript by the 13th century scholar, Zakariya al-Qazwini, titled ‘Wonders of Creation’ (Aja’ib al-makhluqat wa ghara’ib al-mawjudat). In this book al-Qazwini takes us through the nine heavens in a mystical yet precise and observational way, descending to earth and travelling through mythical lands and introducing its inhabitants and environment. In Qazwini’s mind, making an encyclopaedia that stretches your imagination and entertains your soul will only bring you closer to God if you understand that he’s capable of so much more than we could ever imagine. Inspired by the illustrations and text in this encyclopaedia, I composed the painting to symbolise ascending through the heavens as well to try to understand the days of creation, to reach a level of transcendence where we understand God, Mulla Sadra’s final stage ‘with God’.