Offering قربان

Gold embroidery thread, genuine indigo pigment in gum tempera and egg glair on watercolour paper. 55x55 cm.

The word qirbān قربان means “offering”. Although a number of other Arabic words carry that meaning, I was specifically drawn by this one’s etymology: qirbān is from the root QRB, “nearness”, and its literal meaning is “something to bring one closer [to the Divine]”. It’s also an ecumenical word, prominent both in the Qur’an and in Christian rites.

The rough granulation of the indigo pigment and variegation of the natural materials balance out the strict geometric precision of the composition, but also offer an extra layer of contrast with the purity of the painstakingly woven, golden “offering”.

This piece can look very different under different lighting conditions and angles, as you can gather from the photos above.

More info & photos: https://majnouna.com/portfolio/offering/