Calculations for Movement

presented with STATION Australia at ArtBasel Hong Kong

hand pierced and engraved copper, silver, patina treatment

In this series of works conceived for the navigation of the future spiritual and sacred in celestial space, Taweel draws upon the histories of the Arab Science’s celestial navigation and astronomical instruments. Taweel’s hand pierced and engraved copper speculative works are a provocation of materiality to the consequences of the relationship of science and spirituality. In a future of space migration and pilgrimage, where the scientific mechanism designed to navigate the universe, unfastens metaphor to direct pilgrimage, is the risk of leaving the pilgrim adrift in infinite space increasing? How will the pilgrim navigate towards the spiritual or sacred centres of the re-presented celestial body?  As light passes through the pierced motifs of hand-held ornate forms, the transparent objects method of use remains hidden. An instrument’s potential to navigate the intersection of body, astronomy and spirit is considered by a body of weightless mass looking for its soul in celestial space.