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Vessels of Wreckage: Solo exhibition by Basmah Felemban

Current exhibition
7 Apr - 26 Jun 2025 Riyadh
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Une publication partagée par ATHR (@athrart)

Basmah Felemban Saudi, b. 1993

Wave Catcher, 2023
Teak wood veneer
Various sizes
Copyright The Artist
Price Upon Request This captivating installation comprises 16 intricately designed sound traps, each uniquely tied to a specific phrase within the Adhan. These traps mirror the breath length, frequency, and...
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Price Upon Request


This captivating installation comprises 16 intricately designed sound traps, each uniquely tied to a specific phrase within the Adhan. These traps mirror the breath length, frequency, and melody of these phrases, drawing inspiration from the diverse cultures of 21 nations across Eastern Arabia, East Africa, Yemen, and coastal South Asia (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh). These lands served as significant trade and Hajj travel routes, and the installation resonates with the spirit of those historic travelers. Each trap emits a melodic sound reminiscent of ocean waves, paying homage to the enduring journey of faith-driven individuals. In reality, these sounds are a fusion of the Adhan's phrases from the aforementioned countries, forging a mythological guide for ocean voyages.


The Adhan, a spiritual call to prayer, is known for its distinct twelve melodic segments transitioning between various tonal centers or maqamat. Different regions in the Middle East perform the Adhan in specific maqamat, exemplified by Maqam Bayati in Medina and Maqam Hijaz in Mecca.


The installation is rife with symbolism and meaning, encapsulating the profound connection between reflection and action inherent in the Adhan's composition. It incorporates sound, form, color, and position (Maqam) to manifest this union.

In terms of shape and position, oblong spheres represent sound width, with higher positions indicating high-frequency sounds and lower positions representing low-frequency ones, forming a unique sound imaging concept.

The work also interprets sound through the ebbs and flows of the Adhan's melodies, evoking the sensation of ocean waves.


Finally, it uses color to harmonize the Adhan's maqamat with the moods of different times of day, guiding individuals to slow down, accelerate, or gently awaken.

Resembling traditional fishing traps employed in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, the installation features suspended spheres and oblong shapes that act as sound receptors by the shore, capturing the echoes of the call to prayer that have resonated for over fourteen thousand years, five times a day.


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Exhibitions

2023 - 1st Islamic Arts Biennale, Jeddah, SA
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