Tessellate by Saba Rifat

Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10.30am – 3.00pm

We are delighted to present a new exhibition in Huddersfield by Saba Rifat. Saba is based in Dewsbury and since completing a Master’s degree in Visual and Islamic Art at the HRH Prince Charles Traditional School of Arts in London, has worked across the UK, in Spain and Malaysia. In addition to her gallery-based work, she has designed murals and public art projects, including Dewsbury Urban Garden in 2020.

For our exhibition space in Huddersfield (Unit 2 Piazza Shopping Centre), Saba has brought together a unique collection of her works encompassing printmaking, constructions, sculpture and video.

Saba’s work is inspired by the ubiquitous geometric shapes observed in Nature and Science. Many of the compositions she creates have a close reference to historical Islamic Patterns, comprising of geometric divisions, forms and colours that use visual techniques drawn from a rich traditional culture.

“I closely identify with the circle, a symbol of Unity / Mother of Shapes, as it is simultaneously organic and mathematical. This provides the basis from which my work arises.

By using a compass and ruler I draft patterns from a circle, that are inextricably and symbolically linked with the cycle of Creation. My creative process then becomes intuitive and experimental as compositions evolve from the act of doing, not planning, like solving a visual jigsaw puzzle. It’s not to say I have no thought about what I am creating. I am motivated by the multitude of expressive possibilities that crystalline patterns lend themselves to. Elements of symmetry, repetition and tessellations often feature, that allow rhythm and flow into my work.”

Alongside the exhibition are drop-in activities for families including paper folding and geometric colouring. Saba’s activity book ‘Geometric Skies’ is available to buy, along with prints and hand-made cards by members of West Yorkshire Print Workshop.

For more information visit https://wypw.org/exhibitions/