project pearl
Project Pearl is a project involving the design and creation of a modern-day “illumination” for the Bahá’í Obligatory Prayers. In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (the Most Holy Book in the Bahá’í Faith), the law of these prayers were made obligatory to those past the age of maturity (15 years) by Bahá’u’lláh, whose purpose is to foster and maintain devotion and humility in one’s life. There are three main sets of prayers (short, medium, and long) as well as special tablets for those who are unable to perform their daily prayers.
In this illumination, each section of each of the prayers (short, medium, etc.) have their own associated abstract paintings which, rather than depicting a particular scene as in Biblical illuminations, reflect personal visions and reflections. The illumination also draws on several works by pivotal modern artists, including Barnette Newman, Theo van Doesburg, Mark Tobey, and Vincent van Gogh.
