“The connections between the mountain and the black threads draw a parallel with an imagined cosmic world
with many associations and metaphorical references to the memory of a physical landscape. The white
mountain top in the centre of the work acts as a magnetic force that energizes and coordinates the
movements of the other elements, suggesting a network of dynamic links between the constituent parts.
Constellation is an attempt to go beyond a superficial understanding of the physical elements of the work and
to aspire towards an ideal landscape.
The work also plays metaphorically on the astrological meaning of constellation, allowing different readings
and interpretations. The four arbitrary sets of constellations within the work are fragmented and incomplete,
reflecting a state of contradiction and conflict in reality. This gives the work a new perspective and invites the
viewer to contemplate and interpret it within a new context.
Constellation incorporates ideas and forms from ‘Precious Stones’ and ‘Family Ties’ – series of my drawings
and paintings that preoccupied my work for over ten years. Both series focus on the significance of various
symbols and forms such as stones, fire, cubes and circles, which both characterize the collective cultural
identity of the Kurdish people and highlight the universal plight of the exile – physically distant though always
emotionally close to home”
