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Hamra Abbas

Hamra Abbas

Hamra Abbas

Born in Kuwait. Lives in Boston, USA, and Lahore, Pakistan.

Garden
Marble, lapis lazuli, granite, serpentine, pink calcite, jasper
975 x 914 cm

© Hamra Abbas 2021
Commissioned by and Collection of Expo 2020 Dubai
Cover photo: Roman Mensing in cooperation with Thorsten Arendt (detail)

Location

Garden is a floor sculpture by Hamra Abbas inspired by Mughal gardens and idyllic scenes depicted in miniature paintings. Historically, their style intended to represent an earthly utopia in which humans coexist with nature in perfect harmony.

The imagery at work plays on the aesthetics of the desire for a blissful paradisiacal land, a feature found in many traditions worldwide. However, unlike a traditional garden, this garden has no vertical or horizontal enclosure. The earthly waterfalls, rocks, flowers and a tree that reaches into the heavenly stars above are all interconnected.

Using the traditional marble and stone inlay technique from Lahore, the work examines the symbolic significance of garden images in relation to architecture through its evocative power and aesthetics to communicate that which is beyond description.

Hamra Abbas: Garden, 2021
Marble, lapis lazuli, granite, serpentine, pink calcite, jasper. 975 x 914 cm
Commissioned by and Collection of Expo 2020 Dubai.
Photos: Roman Mensing and Thorsten Arendt (some are details)

More in UiU:

Text and information: Expo 2020 Dubai Public Art Programme.

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