“Listen to the silence, it has much to say.”-Rumi
This artwork by Khaula Siddique is currently being exhibited at Mississauga Celebration Square, as part of Winter Magic.
Khaula Siddique
Illuminated laser cut acrylic
2022
About the artwork
““Listen to the silence, it has much to say.”-Rumi is a reminder to take time out to be silent and away from the noise of our chaotic world. It is healing to be out in nature, and the quietness has many stories to tell. It is also a reminder of the “silence” left behind when any species becomes extinct. This silence has a lot to tell us.
The tiger is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful creatures in the world, inspiring awe it is no wonder that it is a symbol of beauty, strength, resilience and power in many traditions and cultures. Tigers inhabit both the lands of ice and the lands of light and this is why I felt the tiger to be the perfect muse for this installation. The light installation tells the story of the tiger’s beauty, surrounded by lotus flowers it is also a metaphor for its resilience-lotus flowers grow and bloom in very murky conditions but also endure intense sunlight and high temperatures.
The animation depicts the Amur, or Siberian, tiger that lives in Siberia (Ice) and the tigers that live in warm climates (Light) from India, Bengal, Bhutan, Malaysia, China to Sumatra. Unfortunately, three of the nine subspecies of tiger are now extinct. They used to inhabit Turkey, Iran, Java and Bali. I hope that this project captures the audience’s curiosity and creates an appreciation for the beautiful creatures we share this world with, as well as an awareness of how our actions can affect their existence.”
– Khaula Siddique
Gallery
About the artist
Khaula Siddique is a self-taught, award-winning visual artist, working with both digital and traditional mediums. Born and raised in Canada, Khaula is the daughter of South Asian immigrants, whose main aim in life was to produce doctors or engineers. Her father pointed at her in her warm York County Hospital bassinet proclaiming, “This one’s going to be a doctor.” Needless to say, the story went quite differently and this is why you should never assume in life. While she did dutifully pursue an education in science, earning her Masters in Biochemistry, she now gets paid to scribble on everything from small pieces of paper to large walls. Any surface will do as long as she can paint a story on it.
A true believer in the therapeutic benefits of art and the importance in preserving and telling people’s stories, she loves bringing art to the community and the community to art. Khaula achieves this through interactive art events, unique exhibitions and meaningful public art.
Always curious to try something new, she overcame her terror of all things tech and dove into the digital world. She found the repetitive, methodical process of animation both meditative and calming and an excellent way to briefly escape the chaos of the world.
Besides art and overindulging her eccentric orange tabby, Khaula is passionate about Rumi quotes, and environmental and social issues, which are the themes in much of her artwork.
For more, follow @khaulasart on Instagram, or visit Khaula’s website.
More information
This artwork is being exhibited as part of Winter Magic on Celebration Square from November 25, 2023 until January 4, 2024.
Photography by Tori Lambermont.