Dynamic of Motion

Khalid Al Banna uses textiles to address how traditions change and are diluted over time in a rapidly evolving consumerist era. Sourced from South Asia, these vibrant fabrics feature embroidery, crystals, beads and mirrors and are traditionally worn by women to mark special events. In ripping them apart, Al Banna addresses the adulteration of identity and heritage. In Dynamic of Motion, he adopts elements of Islamic art and geometry in order to convey the relationship between Emirati culture and Islam. The woven floral patterns recall those found in Islamic miniatures, architecture and other art forms. The repetition of these motifs resonates with the concept of multiplicity in Islamic art, as does the circle – a shape that implies circumambulation, the architecture of domes and the whirling of dervishes, and more. The artwork’s webbed frame subscribes to the principles of Islamic geometry and architecture, while, in the tradition of Islamic ornamentation, the relationship between the work’s plain base and its rich patterns is integral to the work’s sense of balance: both elements are interdependent, and one cannot exist without the other. – Myrna Ayad