shemza.digital #9, 2022

Aphra Shemza in collaboration with the public

Materials: UV painted board and UV light

Dimensions: 2.4m x 2.4m

shemza.digital #9 is inspired by the wall and gate motifs in Anwar Shemza’s City Walls series, which are based on Islamic architecture. Aphra Shemza has created a lattice using the signature curved shapes that recur in her grandfather’s work. The hanging sculpture makes reference to the jali screen traditional to Indo-Islamic architecture. This common architectural feature provides privacy, whilst allowing air to circulate inside the building and reducing the impact of strong sunlight and heavy rain. The jali screen also divides public and private domains.

The screen was inspired by students in Aphra Shemza’s participatory workshops.