SHAMSA comes from an Arabic word meaning the Sun. It is the name given to a circular device in Islamic art, often implemented as part of the design structure on carpets, textiles, metal objects, illuminated books and architecture.

By the sixteenth century it had become a customary illuminated device in the opening pages of royal manuscripts.

 

The STEEL SHAMSAS in this gallery were first installed at The Brunei Gallery, SOAS, as part of my 2009 exhibition 'Geometry, Illumination and Beyond'.

I built the design over an octagonal geometric structure using a classic grammar of elements. They were manufactured in 3mm  steel by a British engineering company using state-of-the-art water-jet cutting technology.

 

The Shamsas in the intsallation measure  100cm in diameter; the suspended ones are powder coated, and the wall-mounted one is made of mirrored steel.

 

New editions of this design are now available in 1.5 mm steel with a diameter of 50cm and integrated invisible wall-fixings.