ArtDayMe : Azadeh Jafarian : What first draws attention is the contradiction in the material itself. The sculpture is made from aluminium wire — a strong, industrial substance usually associated with rigidity and permanence. Yet through the act of knitting, Lootah softens this hardness, creating forms that appear flexible, tender, and almost human. This tension between strength and fragility mirrors the emotional reality of motherhood: resilient yet vulnerable, protective yet deeply sensitive. For the artist, knitting is more than a technique; it is a meditative process. Each loop holds time, patience, and care, much like the slow and continuous effort required to nurture relationships.

The forms resist clear definition, and this ambiguity is central to the work’s emotional power. The shapes hover between abstraction and suggestion. Some viewers see two bodies intertwined, others perceive a shelter, or even womb-like forms. This openness invites personal interpretation, allowing viewers to connect their own experiences to the sculpture. The open wire structure also allows light to pass through, creating intricate shadows that extend beyond the physical object. These shadows feel like emotional echoes — reminders that relationships always leave invisible marks within us.

At its core, the artwork explores the complex relationship between mother and child in contemporary life. The two main forms are connected yet distinct, suggesting both intimacy and tension. They appear inseparable, but still maintain individual presence — reflecting the delicate balance between attachment and independence that defines maternal bonds. Rather than presenting motherhood as purely gentle or sentimental, Lootah acknowledges its uncertainty, emotional weight, and the constant negotiation between closeness and letting go.

The sculpture also speaks about transformation. In Lootah’s practice, forms are never fixed; they stretch, collapse, and reappear over time, existing in a continuous state of becoming. The knitted loops symbolize this ongoing evolution — there is no clear beginning or end, only a flow of connected gestures. This reflects the artist’s belief that forms, like relationships, are never truly finished but are always changing.

The domestic association of knitting adds another deeply human layer. Traditionally seen as a private, feminine activity, knitting becomes in Lootah’s hands a conceptual artistic language. By bringing this intimate gesture into the public space of sculpture, she elevates everyday acts of care while challenging the boundaries between craft and fine art.

Alia Hussain Lootah is an Emirati contemporary artist born in Dubai in 1987. Working across sculpture, drawing, and painting, she often explores themes of motherhood, emotional transformation, and interpersonal relationships. She is especially known for her knitted wire sculptures that balance softness and strength, movement and stillness. Lootah is also the co-founder of Medaf Studio in Dubai, a creative space dedicated to encouraging artistic expression for both children and adults. Her work is rooted in meditation, repetition, and the transformation of personal experience into universal emotional forms.