Discovering Geometry.

I feel a connection to the earth when I create geometric art and a reverence for this sacred art form. I sense a web around me and feel connected to the philosophical essence from which this art originated. According to Greek language Geometry means “earth measure”. Initially round pebbles called “Khalix” were used by ancient world thinkers in substitute of written numbers.

Now though if you search Khalix (pebble), it comes up as a clue in a crossword puzzle for “calculus”.

My story with this art form began over a decade ago when I visited the Alhambra in Spain. I had been reluctant to travel anywhere that would take me away from lounging in the sun. I had no idea that I would be transfixed from the moment I arrived and that it would be love at first sight. It was like I entered a time warp and another dimension of my reality. I had found a portal in which I wanted to remain in forever. There was mystery and meaning in the ceramics, plasterwork, and carvings. My essence felt radiant as I passed under arch scallops, horseshoe arches and other prominent Andalusian architecture. I stayed there for as long as I could before being ushered out at closing time. I was mesmerised with this place, and it felt like home. Having been born into Islam, and growing up Muslim and then later Christianity, I felt this place represented me like no other. The contrasting parts of me were accepted and I belonged.

Whilst I no longer follow either religion, I still feel a sense of connection to that visit, and it is imprinted into my memory. More recently my love story with geometry has re-awoken. I found myself drawn to the designs and patterns of ancient buildings and that I wanted to re-connect with my cultural heritage. During the pandemic I turned to online classes at The Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts.

I have struggled with anxious and difficult thoughts during these uncertain times, and art has helped me navigate these stormy waters. For me this became more than just a hobby. It has felt like a lifeline and much needed distraction from the world around me. My being connects to the work I create, as I enter a flow state for hours. I draw lines with a ruler, pencil, pen, and compass and watch to see what unfolds.

I am amazed at the journey of geometric art creation. Once the body and structure of a pattern is etched out, it is possible to transfer to tracing paper and tessellate. I enjoy the learning process. There is wisdom in the mistakes created. You could be a millimetre off with your compass and at the end be left with a centimetre wide gap in your pattern. The process of starting again and following the steps from the beginning has a monotony to it like a soothing song. Each time the rhythm becomes more familiar until you can create on autopilot. I learnt from a teacher that the centre of the compass point connects you to your heart. It is this relationship between you and what you are creating that produces meaningful artwork. This explains the feeling I have whilst creating geometry and how it is a meditative experience. The teacher further explained that when creating a circle using a compass the beginning represents the start of your life and in one continuous motion it ends as the circle closes.

When drawing circles you could experiment without using a compass and can draw circles in many different ways. You can use three pencils or pens to make a compass with elastic bands. You could use a pin, string, and pencil. You can use a paperclip and pencil. You can use a mallet and string and draw a circle on sand.

Drawing circles:

Step 1: Draw a line across your page and measure your compass to 3cm radius.

Step 2: Place the point of your compass in the centre and draw one continuous circle.

Step 3: Place the point of your compass where the circle has cut the line and draw another circle. You can then draw it on the other side or place the point of your compass where the circle has cut the line at the top or bottom and draw another circle.

Step 4: You can create triangles and hexagons from these circles and their cut points.

When I started my courtship with geometry, I was reticent and shy. However, something kept pulling me to create with this art, and our relationship blossomed. I initially believed that it was me who found geometry and I have since come to see it as the other way round. Geometry provided me with certainty and an escape from the uncertainty in the world around. There is order behind the diversity of nature, the way leaves are arranged on a stem, opposing spirals of seeds, and the golden spiral in molluscs. The timeless nature of geometry allowed me to delve into the mystery of life and explore the order within nature and my surroundings. I am just at the beginning of my journey with sacred geometry and as I deepen my union with it, my being expands to new levels.

Since originally creating this writing piece, my health has deteriorated both physically and emotionally. I have struggled to find the energy and motivation to create like I once used to. Since the start of the pandemic, I have drawn and painted something at least weekly. In the weeks of absence, it has felt like a distant memory. I have had the sense of losing a friend and that a part of myself. Whilst in the throngs of illness I hope to take my art up once again. It will be waiting for me, even just to glance at pictures from geometry books and my previous work. It has been hard looking back at what I once found effortless to do. It has also been a joy to look at what I have made. I still choose to celebrate my creations and the story between me and geometry. I will come back to it again. That is sometimes how it is with projects coming to a standstill part-way through, and stories left unwritten. I realise that even with things unfinished, there is still value in all that I am. This reflection is possibly the most important part of this piece. Sometimes all we can do is nothing at all. Being present with the difficult feelings takes huge strength. Being attentive to them, even for one moment is courageous and a significant achievement.