‘Longing and Belonging’

In an increasingly digital world, virtual interactions offer efficiency but often erode the tactile and emotional resonance of face-to-face human connection.

Drawing upon personal memory, this series revisits the artist’s childhood experiences of hospitality, moments in which gestures of welcome, care, and intimacy sowed and
nurtured the seeds of love.

Inspired by an ancient Fatimid text that traces love’s progression from seed to tree, the series of 6 artworks map parallel stages of hospitality, depicting how acts of welcome evolve into deeper states of longing and belonging.

2. Lahazaat — Shared Moments

“…The subsequent glances and moments are like nourishment flowing there, causing it (seed) to grow and develop over time until it becomes a tree.”

Carnations represent Lahazaat: shared moments. The guest is seated on a thaal, a traditional large circular steel tray around which people gather for the meal. In this setting, gentle exchanges unfold while the host moves fluidly, carrying a lota (pitcher) of warm water for ritual hand washing before and after eating, offering salt and serving a homemade meal. These gestures embody the nourishment of relationship through ritual and care.