Liminal Dialogue: Navigating Transitions Through Liminal Spaces

This exhibit features a unified series of glass paintings that explores and addresses the concept of liminality. In my work, I focus on the sense of awe that comes with being in the state of liminality—not knowing what lies beyond, waiting for what might come. We all experience transitions throughout our lives. It is a stage in our lives when our old self-narrative no longer fits and our new narrative has not yet emerged. The term "liminality" refers to an in-between state that is frequently marked by uncertainty; it is the point of transition between two stages. The work for this project represents my own personal experience of being in this state by depicting physical liminal spaces that create a sense of being in a state of liminality.

I chose glass painting as my medium for this exhibition because it relates to the concept of liminality; the transparency of the paint and the reflected surface of the plexiglass help in communicating the message I'm attempting to convey. The glass's reflective surface allows light to bounce off painted areas and pass through unpainted areas, resulting in a range of variants on the same surface and a delightfully unexpected outcome. Light is the non-physical medium of my work. It has the characteristic of having various colors, textures, and depths; as a consequence of the vibrancy and intensity of the light, the viewer is transported to a new place and time. My art focuses on celebrating my Islamic heritage and Pakistani culture and is greatly influenced by traditional Islamic patterns and designs in general. The majority of these patterns have a spiritual component, and for me, the process of making them is similar to meditation. The works in this exhibit feature a diverse range of drawing and painting techniques, including geometric, biomorphic, Arabic calligraphy, and abstract designs as well as glass painting techniques that have been integrated with western art elements and design principles.

My process for integrating all of these components begins with sketching out a scene from my memory that resonates with the concept of liminality, followed by selecting patterns that are indicative of the memory, and finally by adding colors to finalize the composition. For instance, because geometric patterns symbolically represent infinity, I’ve used them in one of my paintings to depict the sense of endless grief. I've captured moments in time that were influenced by my own personal experiences, emotions, and beliefs. I invite viewers to understand the concept and embrace their own transitional experiences, which may help them rediscover themselves.