Berlin by Heart

Shapeshifting Geometry

Baku, AZ
2022

The artwork described explores the interplay between cultural memory, geometry, and the transformation of visual patterns through the lens of Orientalism. The artist, Kaabi-Linke, uses a method of reproducing shadows to create a series of altered silhouettes. This process involves three steps of capturing the shadow of a shadow, which progressively distorts the original geometric design found in Oriental windows.

The Oriental window, traditionally characterized by its intricate and recognizable geometric patterns, acts as a symbol of cultural heritage. However, as the shadow of the window is replicated, the clarity and regularity of the pattern are gradually lost, revealing an evolving form. This decay of geometric intelligibility serves as a commentary on the way Western perspectives (in this case, symbolized by the setting sun) can distort and reshape Eastern cultural artifacts.

The shadows created by the sun stretch and distort the geometric shapes, transforming them into amorphous, almost sculptural forms that call to mind the organic, flowing shapes often seen in Gothic architecture. This transformation from recognizability to abstraction may reflect the tension between the preservation of cultural identity and the forces of outside influence and reinterpretation.

The artist’s process also evokes personal reflections on childhood memories, blending elements of both Western and Eastern cultures. The use of the Western sun to “alter” the original Eastern ornamentation metaphorically reflects how the artist’s experiences in Berlin—part of a diaspora—shaped their understanding and reinterpretation of their cultural roots.

Ultimately, this work speaks to the layered nature of memory, identity, and the cultural exchange between East and West, suggesting that even the most familiar forms can be distorted and transformed when viewed through different cultural lenses and historical contexts.

2-Dimensional

Media
Multiple density fibreboard

Dimension
29,8 x 39,3 cm | 30,2 x 98,5 cm | 31,5 x 162,6 cm | 31,5 x 256 cm

Exhibitions
Essad Bey’s Ordeal, Baku

Exhibit of Variation
The Mashrabiya Project — Seeing Through Space, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Link
Museum for Art in Wood

The artwork reproducing shadows to create a series of altered silhouettes, exploring the interplay between cultural memory, geometry, and the transformation of visual patterns through the lens of Orientalism, Berlin by Heart_Nadia Kaabi-Linke_2022

Installation view at the Studio

© Photo: Kaabi-Linke Studio, 2024