I’ve been working on a series of esoteric Shi’a Muslim portrait illustrations called “The Fourteen Masoomeen,” (Masoomeen meaning “infallibles”) based on the central figures of Twelver Shi’a Islam, where rather than showing the face of the figures, different designs and symbols allude to important moments in their lives. I’ve finished thirteen–The Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali, Fatima Zahra, Imam Hasan, Hussein, Zayn al-Abideen, al-Baqir, as-Sadiq, al-Kadhim, al-Rida, al-Jawad, al-Hadi, and al-Askari–and the last one is Imam Mahdi, who is believed to be alive but hidden from the eyes of man until his time of reappearance occurs. I’m stumped on how to approach his illustration and it might take even years for the correct inspiration to hit me, so have these of his beloved thirteen first… :’)
“Open the gates.
And when you stand before me,
I shall give you designs
That shall rival the greatness of heaven.
I will make you the First among the new gods,
And you will build a paradise on earth.”
-Silence 1:12
Now for some news: in a couple of days I’m planning to make my Instagram gallery fully active. Well, here’s one more way to follow the updates :3
I also post some images (which are not on deviantart or tumblr galleries) on Twitter now, so please check it out!
As always, thank you for your support and happy holidays to everyone!
