Saudi Gazette JEDDAH - The works of a British artist specializing in Islamic art attracted a large audience at a recent Jeddah art exhibition. The works of art displayed depict the circular motion around the Kaaba showing the scene in different colors and using various points of view to show how people circumambulate the Kaaba. Speaking to the Saudi Gazette, artist Siddiqa Juma said participating in the exhibition allowed her to present her works to a Saudi audience and also visit Makkah and see the Kaaba for the first time. "I feel blessed and related," she said while adding her first to Makkah inspired her to expand her works. She explained that the concept of circumambulation around the Kaaba and the pilgrimage has been a source of artistic inspiration. "It is a story of humanity, it tells more about how we can walk in the same space, irrespective of being rich or poor, white or not, Arab or not, young or old, able and disabled or whatever it is. All of that does not seem important there, we leave there and we start to assume our positions," she said. "The holy place makes us all equal under the same sky," Juma added. She noted that people nowadays talk about multiculturalism and the idea of unity, ideas that can be found in Makkah. "The whole concept of what the Kaaba stands for is a perfect example of what unity and what multiculturalism are." Speaking about her participation in a Saudi exhibition she said the engagement and interest have been "phenomenal." She added "I got many reactions, many young people wanted to call their parents and friends to come see the art prices, others wants to take pictures and post them on social media." Juma describes herself as a graphic designer. Though she has presented various works, the Kaaba project still stands unique. "The Kaaba project is a big part of what I do. It is not only the circumambulation abound the Kaaba that amazes me but even the architecture of the Kaaba and the fact that it is a cube, nothing elaborate," she said. One of the most time-consuming art pieces in the Kaaba project is titled "la ilaha illa allah" where the phrase is written in a circular motion around the Kaaba. "It took a lot of time, because of its complexity, as it has to be written thousands of times." Juma is now considering expanding her projects to include other holy sites. For more of her work, the artist's Instagram handle is @siddiqajuma.
