In Anila Quayyum Agha’s installations, everything starts with a steel cube. The Pakistani-American artist cuts the cube’s square faces with a laser, creating intricate geometries and floral motifs taken from Islamic art and architecture. Then she suspends the cube from the ceiling and lights it from within. The result? A floor, wall, and ceiling surround of arabesque and acanthus shadows—the space transformed into a floating infinity. These shadows remind Agha of the beauty and femininity of Pakistani wedding dresses, but they also speak to the inaccessibility of religious ceremonies for Islamic women. An Agha environment embraces all. —E.C.
The Arts Intel Report
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
Anila Quayyum Agha: All the Flowers Are for Me
When
Dec 15, 2020 – May 30, 2021
Where
Etc
Anila Quayyum Agha, “All the Flowers Are for Me (Red),” 2017. Courtesy of Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati.
Nearby
1
Art
Cincinnati Art Museum