Primordial Breath

Primordial Breath

Art piece based on the letter Hâ ه in a variant of the Manuscript Kufic script. Malachite, Chrysocolla and Terre Verte in gum arabic, 23.75 ct gold on paper. 56x56cm.

The letter Hâ is associated with the breath. In the lunar order of the Arabic alphabet, which is phonetic (the letters matching the sounds exactly), Hâ is the innermost sound, a breath generated at the level of the heart. The other letters travel upwards and outwards, ending with the outermost sound W.

The numerical value of Mîm is 40, and in Primordial Waters that was arranged in 5 rings; the value of Hâ is 5, and there are 40 per ring. The two pieces therefore echo each other in form and essence.