unheard voices | the silent one

Unheard Voices is a series of poetry installations that aim to transform voices into visuals within a space and context. Series D01 is a continuation to an initial concept developed in 2015 by the artist/designer and is an on-going series of experimentations and executions. The installation focuses on the use of Arabic typography, using the Nastaliq style as visual forms in different mediums to express a poetic verse in an experiential form. It aims at building a setting and hence an experience to its audience. The space therefore becomes unified with its people. 

D01 of Unheard Voices displayed verses from the poem,الحاكم والعصفور,Governor and the Bird, by Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. The poem speaks of the poet’s situation being unable to express his freedom and feelings while describing himself carrying a bird and walking around the city, when the governor stops them both for passports. Thus stating even birds need passports, even words need passports. This further represents being distant from home and in a city filled with challenges and multiculturalism. 

This piece was created as a direct inspiration of the bird cage yet on a human scale sized cage. As the audience get inside, they are meant to feel entrapped within the words. The designed piece was similar to a 3D Separator that is hung suspended from the ceiling of the space in a tryptich manner. It is rather a 2D / 3D form that created the surrounding and experience from within. As stood on the inside, the words can be formed and hence readable. The piece gives an illusion of it being light from a distance due to the cut-out shapes of the typography within it, yet gets heavier the closer you get into it. This is the silent version which is nothing but a visual interpretation of the poetic verses of the poem by Qabbani. 

Unheard Voices D01 was commisioned by 1971 Design Space as part of RASM Exhibition that was curated by Huda Smitshuizen Abifares and launched in November 2018 in Sharjah, UAE.