#September is for #Humility.
Digital collage with fallen leaves of Oak, Ash, Brambles, Hawthorn; Acorns, Crab apples, Haws, Ivy, Rose hips, Bittersweet; Oak galls, Snail shells, Gall wasp.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt
https://majnouna.com/portfolio/september/

(Darn, I forgot!)

#August is for #Wonder.
Digital collage with Oak and Beech leaves, Cherry Plums, Sloes, Blackberries, Acorns, Fairy Ring mushrooms, Poppy pods; Buff-tip Moth caterpillars, Silver-studded Blue butterfly.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt
https://majnouna.com/portfolio/august/

OFFERING قربان
Gold embroidery thread, indigo pigment in gum tempera & egg glair on paper. 55x55 cm.

Symbolically completed on the summer Solstice, this piece was based on a dream. The word I chose to transpose it in is qirbān. Among many Arabic words that mean "offering", this one drew me with its etymology: from the root QRB, its literal meaning is “something to bring one closer [to the Divine]”. It’s also an ecumenical word, prominent both in the Qur’an and in Christian rites.

#majnounaArt

#July is for #Compassion.
Digital collage with Poppy petals and pods, Rose petals, Maple leaves and samaras, Wild cherries, Sweet Pea; Red Admiral, Small Skipper, Grasshopper, Ladybugs, baby Slug.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt
https://majnouna.com/portfolio/july/

Putting the finishing touches on the talk I'm giving tonight about my art practice in Crowmell Place, London. Entrance is free but requires booking, here's more info: https://www.cromwellplace.com/whats-on/artist-talk-joumana-medlej-words-to-paint-the-invisible

#majnounaArt

#June is for #Reverence.
Digital collage with Oak, Beech, Fern and Bramble leaves; Sycamore flowers, Mallow, Dog rose, Heart’s ease, unripe Sloes; Greylag goose feathers, Song thrush egg; Shield bug, Cardinal beetle, Cantharis, Garden snails and Ladybirds.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt
https://majnouna.com/portfolio/june/

And while one book is in preparation, another can be unveiled...

The Book of Ruination

Artist book × paper sculpture. Gold on hand-cut paper, gold-plated chain. 15x15x2 cm in handmade slipcase. Limited Edition of 12.

In the context of my Solastalgia series, I wanted to make a beautiful but stark sculptural object telling a story gone wrong…

Read more about it and see more photos and a video here: https://majnouna.com/portfolio/book-of-ruination/

#ArtistBook #majnounaArt #cutpaper #artistsofmastodon

#May is for #Gratitude.
Digital collage with young leaves of Oak, Beech and Hawthorn; May and Crab-apple blossom; Bluebells, Buttercup, Forget-me-not, Pink Campion; Orange-tip, Ladybirds, Snail, Spider, and the hatched egg of a Wood pigeon.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt
https://majnouna.com/portfolio/may/

#April is for #Care.
Digital collage with Dandelion, Daisies, Green Alkanet, Stinging Nettles, Lesser Celandine, Addersmeat, Cleavers, Herb-Robert, Wood Spurge, Hedge Parsley, Bluebells, Lichen and Ladybirds.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt
https://majnouna.com/portfolio/april/

I have one more online talk coming up with the Letterform Archive on March 14 before I go offline for a while. It's free to register: https://letterformarchive.org/products/freedom-in-restriction-my-journey-with-kufi/
#ArabicCalligraphy #majnounaArt #calligraphy

#March is for #Oneness.
Digital collage with budding Hawthorn, Beech and other; Alder catkins, Nettles, Violets, pebble and Snail.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt
https://majnouna.com/portfolio/march/

Throwback to 2017: A diptych moved by the plight of refugees.

FLIGHT: Chunks of paper are cut out of the gentle pencil grid of peaceful society, scattered as if by a blast. They leave behind a gutted, fragile grid.

REFUGE: Like ships finding safe harbor, the lost letters find a place to moor. Fragmented space has given way to the circle of wholeness. The red of fire and blood now radiates like a warm hearth.

Acrylic & ink on paper, hand-cut. 55x55 cm framed.
#majnounaArt #artistsofmastodon

I'm late, blame it on the travel!

#February is for #Kinship.
Digital collage with decomposing leaves of Oak, Beech, Maple, Holly, Birch; Horse chestnuts, husks of Acorn and Beech nuts; Snail shell, Pine cone, twigs, Lichen.

#collage #NatureArt #majnounaArt

Here's a text version of my Stanford talk for anyone who prefers reading over watching: https://majnouna.substack.com/p/the-art-of-letting-go

#MajnounaArt #artistsofmastodon #NaturalMaterials

I had such a grand time at Stanford with both The #Handmade Book exhibit and the #Uncertainty & the Handmade collegium, and met more lovely interesting folks than I can list! The recording of my talk, "The Art of Letting Go", is already online:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssfcz_MJ3Fw

#artistsofmastodon #ArtMaterials #MajnounaArt

#Throwback to 2017:

PERPLEXITY
Acrylic and Gold leaf 23.75ct on paper, hand-cut, assembled on mount board. 64x64 cm.

Inspired by an Ibn Arabi quote: "I threw myself into perplexity and He left me swimming in it."

The word ḥīra حيرة here eludes any recognition unless you know it’s there. The pattern was cut out from a single sheet of black card, which adds to the confusion by casting shadows where it is lifted.

#MajnounaArt #papercutting #ArtoftheDay #artistsofmastodon

Another throwback: WHO AM I, acrylic on paper, hand-cut, assembled on canvas.122x122x3 cm. 2014

The large blue word is Ana: me or I. But come closer and it dissolves into hundreds of other pronouns: he, she, they… (هو هما هم هي هما هن)
What “I” believed to be “me” is really an accumulation of elements from society, parents, friends etc that have buried my real nature. The question is, will peeling away all these pieces reveal something, or only a liberating emptiness?

#SquareKufic #MajnounaArt

I did some housekeeping of my toots today and added featured hashtags! Use #MajnounaArt to see all the artwork I posted (you can even follow the hashtag rather than me so only the artwork comes up on your timeline). #artistsofmastodon

@elias Thanks! I've actually been here since november and have posted a few pieces. I just made a #MajnounaArt hashtag you can use to see them all!