Kun: To Be is the first institutional solo exhibition by Emirati photographer Lamya Gargash at Maraya Art Centre. “Kun”, an Arabic term meaning “to be,” represents a state of being. In this context, it reflects the artist’s transformative journey, embracing liminal spaces as catalysts for spiritual growth and personal transformation.
Liminal space, a term derived from the Latin word “limen” meaning “threshold”, is the uncertain transition between where an individual has been and where that same individual is going – physically, emotionally, or metaphorically. “To be” in a liminal space means being on the precipice of something new but not quite there yet.
Lamya Gargash’s photographs often explore themes of identity, drawing inspiration from both inhabited and abandoned spaces as well as places for community and culture. The artist’s lens focuses on concert halls, museums, theatres, schools, recreational rooms, personal homes and offices in various ways – eerie, romantic, suspenseful and filled with beauty.
Drawing inspiration from her life between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, Gargash conscientiously connects the cities of Sharjah, Dubai, London and Bath through carefully curated gold draping gestures captured within each frame to create a unique bond.
This draping, golden fabric is placed into various spaces, guided by the Qibla, a modified compass indicating the direction of prayer. Gargash uses the Qibla to symbolise direction, spirituality and unity. The gold fabric covers and conceals elements in its path; this inclusion breaks the silence of the still frame, drawing attention to focal points and bridging the gap between what is considered sacred and secular.
Press release from Maraya Art Centre
Image: Lamya Gargash. Installation view of KUN: To Be (2024) at Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah. Image courtesy of the artist and Maraya Art Centre
