WOVEN PORTALS is a work of sci-fi Sufism: a collection of 100 artworks that blend spaceship navigation interfaces with the infinite geometry of Persian rugs. Each artwork is part hand-generated, part software-generated, a collaboration between man and machine, tradition and technology.
The primary ingredients in these artworks are Persian rugs and spaceship interfaces. They are sprinkled with engineering schematics mixed with Arabic and Urdu Calligraphy. Once a composition comes together, every object is vectorized and outlined in various colors. Each object is then algorithmically blended into each other multiple times and in various directions, each time creating an intricate woven portal with a unique persona of its own.
WOVEN PORTALS is a perfect example of Saks Afridi’s “Sci-Fi Sufism,” a genre that fuses mysticism and storytelling to nudge viewers into discovering galaxies within themselves. To create these multi-faceted experiences, Afridi, a Pakistan-born, New York City-based multi-disciplinary artist, draws inspiration from Sufi poetry, Afrofuturism, South Asian folklore, Islamic mythology, Science Fiction, Architecture, and Calligraphy.
“My practice…investigates the predicaments and perplexities of the life of an “Insider Outsider.” I define this as the practice of achieving a sense of belonging while being out of place, finding happiness in a state of temporary permanence, and re-contextualizing existing historical and cultural narratives with the contemporary.” — Saks Afridi
In addition to accomplishments as a visual artist, Afridi is a renowned art-based Creative Director with 20 years of US and global experience. He’s the proud recipient of two Gold Cannes Lions, three D&AD, two One Show Pencils, and a UN Award for Peace and Understanding. He is a Group Creative Director at Merkley + Partners, where he has overseen the marketing work for Mercedes-Benz, Smart Car, White Castle, and Tic Tac, to name a few.
Each NFT in the WOVEN PORTALS series includes a printable pdf file. These vector-based works can be printed at any size without losing quality. Collectors are invited to print the artwork on any material in any size. If the collector makes a print and decides to then sell their NFT, that print is theirs to keep and enjoy.
The Drop — August 23, 2022
Each of the four artworks on auction comes with a companion piece that will be airdropped to the winning bidder.
Each NFT in the WOVEN PORTALS series includes a printable PDF file. These vector-based works can be printed at any size without losing quality. Collectors are invited to print the artwork
WOVEN PORTAL 51a
This Woven Portal incorporates calligraphy of the Arabic letter ‘Nun’ ن, the 25th letter of the alphabet. It is believed to originally derive from Egyptian hieroglyphics of a serpent as well as a fish. The letter curves points to a portal made of infinite Persian rug borders. The accent or ‘Nuqta’ above the ن appears three times. The red Aleph (ا) appears once.
The winning bidder will receive WOVEN PORTAL No. 51b as a companion/collector bonus work via Airdrop within 3 days after the auction closes.
WOVEN PORTAL 51b
This Woven Portal comprises an outline of a Persian rug border blending its way into infinity. The same rug is also seen in WOVEN PORTAL No. 51a.
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.4 ETH reserve; 24-hour auction
WOVEN PORTAL 52a
This Woven Portal incorporates the first and 25th letter in the Arabic language, Aleph (ا) and ‘Nun’ ن, respectively. I first encountered this particular ن in a book of calligraphy at Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The winning bidder will receive WOVEN PORTAL No. 52b as a companion/collector bonus work via Airdrop within 3 days after the auction closes.
WOVEN PORTAL 52b
This Woven Portal incorporates the first and 25th letters in the Arabic language, Aleph (ا) and ‘Nun’ ن, respectively.
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.4 ETH reserve; 24-hour auction
WOVEN PORTAL 53a
This Woven Portal is a blend of a tribal Persian rug and a Spaceship HUD (Heads Up Display) Interface.
The winning bidder will receive WOVEN PORTAL No. 53b as a companion/collector bonus work via Airdrop within 3 days after the auction closes.
WOVEN PORTAL 53b
This Woven Portal is a blend of a tribal Persian rug and a Spaceship HUD (Heads Up Display) Interface.
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.4 ETH reserve; 24-hour auction
WOVEN PORTAL 54a
This Woven Portal is a blend of a tribal Persian rug, a Spaceship HUD (Heads Up Display) Interface, and Arabic calligraphy.
The winning bidder will receive WOVEN PORTAL No. 54b as a companion/collector bonus work via Airdrop within 3 days after the auction closes.
WOVEN PORTAL 54b
This Woven Portal is a blend of a tribal Persian rug, a Spaceship HUD (Heads Up Display) Interface, and Arabic calligraphy.
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.4 ETH reserve; 24-hour auction
