In NAWA, Monira Al Qadiri transforms the hidden mechanics of the oil industry into a poetic field of metallic blooms. Inspired by steel rope cables used to extract oil from the earth, the artist reveals their intricate inner patterns—reminiscent of flowers, geometric designs, or decorative motifs—by recreating them as flat, iridescent sculptures. Arranged together, these forms evoke a surreal "flower field," reflecting the paradoxical beauty and complexity of oil’s impact on our world: a seductive yet toxic gift.
The title, NAWA, references both the Japanese word for rope and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs (N-W-H) symbolizing ropes, underscoring humanity’s long history of technological ingenuity. The iridescent hues of the sculptures echo the shimmering surface of oil, bridging the industrial and the organic in a space of visual and conceptual tension.