Shangri LA 8x8 Exhibition 2022

Jannah 2021. Dye sublimated illustrations on polyester velour, Curtain : 48in x 98in, Cushions : 32.5in x 11in x 3in.

Created for Shangri La’s 8x8 Exhibition 2022.

ARTIST STATEMENT

“Jannah” - the most common term for ‘paradise’ in the Qur’an - literally translates to the word garden. Just like the Arabic word that Jannah comes from - meaning to be hidden or concealed - Shangri La evokes the hidden paradise it was named after in James Hilton’s 1933 novel, ‘Lost Horizon.’ 

Inspired by this concept, along with the abundance of arabesques, floral patterns and quirky animals found in Islamic artwork, Trangmar’s imagery corresponds directly to what she observed in the gardens of the Shangri La property. Teeming with life, her textile illustrations include a bounty of site specific birds, animals and plants along with references to Islamic stories such as the mythological Simurgh and the Qajar lion. 

This work was created specifically for the Qajar gallery with careful consideration of Qajar aesthetics and the gallery’s unique characteristics.