Final Design
As you can see, this is my final design that will guide me on how to print and use my blocks to create a tapestry filled with traditional Islamic sacred geometry and Kufic calligraphy. I have produced a series of 22 blocks that fuse Arabic poetry and intricate pixel patterns. The blocks are used to print on fabric, creating endless combinations and configurations. I wanted my printed design to be bold and visually strong, to convey how important stars are in the Arab Peninsula.
Development of the design
Modularity
Throughout all of these experiments, I felt lost. I didn't have a sense of direction or a clear vision for my final outcome, where I could create something that would support my topic and interests, and also strike a balance between Arabic type and block printing. My previous experiments lacked unity and balance.
Looking back and reflecting on my dictionary book, which carries valuable historical information about star studies, star catalogs, and old Islamic astronomers, I found myself drawing an Islamic star shape. Inside this star, I included Arabic type with the word 'suhail' written in square Kufi.
In my final midterm concept, I wanted to use square Kufi as it is one of the earliest Arabic scripts out there. Inside the circle, I added geometric star studies to support my topic more, and included a variety of stars around the blocks in certain places to create a sense of balance and texture in my work. I wanted each piece to be a separate block in the shape of a star so I could play with it and create different patterns and star shapes.
As you can see, the two GIFs explain two different ways I can use the blocks and create two different varieties of star shapes. As for the patterns, I created this layout to help explain and understand how they would look. The pink color shows the negative space, which will be empty, and the blue outlines represent the different blocks.
