‘In the Breath of Decay,’ a solo show by Alyazia Al Nahyan at Iris Projects
ArtDayME: Iris Projects in Abu Dhabi hosts ‘In the Breath of Decay,’ exhibition by Alyazia Al Nahyan.
Drawing inspiration from poet George Meredith’s idea of regeneration through decay, Al Nahyan maps the season through foraged materials, primarily fallen leaves from the neem tree and other organic items like colocynth fruit, butterfly tea powder, and metallic residues. These materials are subjected to bleach and vinegar, revealing their shapes and guiding the artist’s process of stripping away to uncover new forms.
The artist’s work focuses on the transformation of decomposing plants, which she uses to create pigments on raw fabrics. The result is abstracted landscapes, where hues of olive-green, yellow-gold, and red evoke swathes of forest or land. Other works feature bifurcated scenes, reflecting a cross-section of time and influenced by the deserts of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain.
Al Nahyan’s pieces are marked by a quiet, restrained transformation, echoing feminist philosopher Luce Irigaray’s idea of a silent world where plants breathe and humans seek to understand how to communicate without disrupting nature. ‘In the Breath of Decay’ captures a meditative exploration of change, renewal, and the subtle rhythms of the natural world.
On view until 20 January, Abu Dhabi, Iris Projects
Text source: Art Dubai
Photos credit: Iris Projects
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