Zeena Hamid | Naqqashi Bloom

Zeena Hamid is an artist from Milton, Ontario whose practice centers on the enduring tradition of Islamic geometric design. Her love of travel and culture inspires her artwork and creative practice. For over a decade, Zeena has explored the intersections of mathematics, spirituality and craftsmanship, creating works that celebrate the diverse cultures and history of the Muslim world. Specializing in wood carving, wall installations, and mixed media pieces, Zeena reinterprets classical Islamic motifs with a contemporary sensibility, inviting viewers to experience harmony, rhythm, and balance through form.

Stepping into Wazir Khan Masjid in Pakistan was an experience that took my breath away. This piece is an ode to that feeling and those sights. Using my passion for Islamic geometry as the framework, Naqqashi Bloom is a geometric wood piece adorned with various hand painted floral motifs that can be found throughout the walls and ceilings of the interior of Wazir Khan Masjid. Naqqashi is Persian influenced ornamentation on surfaces and in Wazir Khan Masjid it is specifically a fresco painting technique of ornate motifs which is what inspired the title Naqqashi Bloom. I hope this piece in its colours, shapes and whimsy transports the viewer to my mind’s dream of my homeland.