Zunaira Mufti | The Mosque cathedral : The Rise and Fall of Al-Andalus

Zunaira’s artistic journey is rooted in her cultural heritage, architectural training, and love for storytelling. Originally from Pakistan, she explores the intersection of art, architecture, and symbolism, drawing on cultural, spiritual, poetic, and nature-inspired themes. For her, art is both a spiritual connection to nature and a way to express universal emotions and ideas.

Through her studio, ZDot Design, she integrates creativity with community, hosting inclusive workshops and events that encourage self-expression. As an instructor at the First Ontario Arts Centre Milton and a member of the Fine Arts Society of Milton, she shares her passion to inspire, connect, and foster inclusivity.

She is the co-founder and a member of The Artist Cube.Her work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions and recognized with multiple awards for her artistic excellence and contributions to community art projects. Zunaira’s mission is to create impactful art that heals, connects, and inspires. Through her practice, she strives to build inclusive spaces where all voices and identities are celebrated.

My painting, The Mosque cathedral:  The Rise and Fall of Al-Andalus, is a tribute to the timeless grandeur of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, where architecture transforms into poetry and stone becomes an expression of love. Inspired by Allama Mohammad Iqbal’s celebrated poem “Masjid-e-Qurtuba”, the work reflects his vision of eternal faith, beauty, and resilience that transcends the boundaries of time. The majestic arches, created with devotion, symbolize the unshakable spirit of a civilization that once illuminated Spain with knowledge, artistry, and spiritual depth. Their reflection in the foreground serves as a mirror of history, reminding us how memory and legacy continue to echo across centuries. In the background, the tower stands tall, a silent witness to both triumph and decline. The yellow hues of the sky capture the radiant rise of Muslim Spain, while the blues convey its eventual fall, together narrating a story of remembrance, endurance, and the eternal bond between faith and creation.