AL NUR
Concrete and wood
35cm x 15cm, 15 cm height
As the Islamopolitan exhibition announced before that the Islamic rituals and traditions are the factors for the chosen designs to exhibit, I choose to derive the idea of designing AL NUR oud scent container or box and relate it to Islam through the close use of it and the Islamic rituals and habits. As known, the oud scent is used to be worn directly on the skin, as in Islam and throughout the Muslim traditional habits, wearing oud is a special practice that Muslims are known for especially in the Arabian Gulf region. Also, it is a desirable habit to wear oud on Fridays before the Friday prayer for men, traditionally during family and friends gatherings. Diffuse the warm scent in the house brings in comfortable feelings for praying, meditating and creating a peaceful atmosphere in the place.
The Oud diffuser is a static element in the house that brings in a peaceful atmosphere throughout a memorable Odor. AL NUR is important for the audience as it breaks the typical idea of an oud container into a different element which functions as an oud scent container for the house and it is also a monolithic static piece of art by itself standing alone.
Al NUR falls under the Etiquette of Islam by its function and use. It is inspired by the geometric shapes in Islamic art and architecture. The process of making these shapes is through carving in a solid object to creat a 3D visual model, and then blending this geometry using pieces with pattern on them to wrap around the geomwtry in a way to play with the solid parts and trasparent pieces in order to creat an interesting harmony between the light and shadow in a kit of parts model.
The geometric part in AL NUR is made out of concrete to represent the heavy geometric object, while the pattern wrapping pieces around the geometry part is made out of wood. The contrast between the two materials allows for the viewer to follow the wrap around the piece easily through the different sides and enjoy the different shadows created by geometry and patterns. Also, if the viewer is looking at the Oud diffuser from the top, he will start noticing the wrapping pieces of wood around the concrete are forming the word "ALNOR" in Arabic which is one of the 99 names of allah that mean "The light". "AL NUR" means Allah is the source of knowledge and allah shows Muslims the way to follow the right path. The oud is placed in the piece close to the middle part between the geometry, where it could be viewed through the small hole in the concrete that allows people to fill the gap inside with oud, Wooden sticks are used to take some of the scent just like the traditional way of using oud bottles where you take some of the oud scent as it usually a dense smell that should be worn in small amounts to last for hours.
