Zenab Kazmi

راہِ عشق<->راہِ راست Rah-e-Ishq<->Rah-e-Rast (The Path of Love<->The Path of Righteousness)

Functional hand-embroidered lamp shade

“This piece is a meditation on love (Ishq) as the righteous path, a guiding force within Sufism. Inspired by the whirling movement of a Malang (ascetic) performing Dhamaal (a form of Sufi dance in South Asia), its circular form reflects the infinite motion of devotion, rejecting fixed destinations in favour of a journey shaped by love, surrender, and truth. The red velvet honours a Malang’s attire, while the gold embroidery references the sacred beauty of Islamic calligraphy. Ghungroo bells along the bottom edge echo the rhythmic sound of anklets worn by Malangs during dhamaal, bringing sound and presence into the piece.Originally conceived as a signpost, the piece has now found its place as a source of light, reinforcing the idea that love illuminates the “right” path. While signs often claim certainty in their direction, Rah-e-Ishq<->Rah-e-Rast suggests that the path itself is fluid, illuminated not by fixed markers but by the journey of the seeker.”