Gallery 4

In the presence of self (al nafs)

Zeina Iaali

Roomsheet

In the Presence of Self (al-nafs) is grounded in repetition as both a meditative process and a quiet act of resistance, drawing on the spiritual tradition of dhikr (remembrance). The work invites the viewer into a space of tazkiyah (purification and contemplation), where the act of creation becomes ritual, discipline, and inner refinement.

The artist’s practice is deeply introspective, shaped by Islamic mysticism, memory, and identity. It seeks to uncover an internal order of things - an unseen structure that governs both the spiritual and material self. Central to this inquiry is the concept of the nafs (self), which exists in constant negotiation between the qalb (heart) and the ‘aql (intellect) in the pursuit of purifying the ruh (spirit).

The interplay of light, pattern and soundless resonance, draw upon sacred geometry to generate visual echoes that project nur (divine light). Symmetry, unfolding proportions and ideas of infinity are expressions of a divine order that extends beyond the visible world, where mathematics becomes a bridge between the seen and unseen, offering structure to what is intangible.

The sacred symbol of the tetraktys, a triangular formation of ten connecting points arranged across four ascending rows with 1 at the apex, embodies principles of cosmic harmony, spatial order and mathematical unity. Within its structured simplicity lies an infinite complexity, reflecting the relationship between the finite and the eternal.

Images courtesy Jessica Maurer.