Having attended one of Ali Kaaf's classes, I was honored when he asked me to assist on this sculptural project about Qusair Amra, a well-preserved desert castle built in the 8th century in Jordan, UNESCO world heritage since 1985.
My task was to prepare 3D models for different prototypes that came in a variety of arrangements. The pattern of the floor illustrated here is a replica of the real-life floors on-site, taking the contextual factors into consideration.
Part of this particular installation is that it can be arranged in different ways - a circle cut in three parts that can meet each other in different angles.
Once the digital models were finalized, we started working on the materials. Here you can see the process of bending the iron tubes that would later constitute the top and bottom parts of the piece.
What I personally appreciated a lot about this project was the combination of virtual imagination and manual building.
Accuracy and mindfulness are required when cutting ultra-hard materials such as metals.
Measurements have to be exact at each step of the assembly.
Part of project management is to estimate the time and effort that goes into the different steps of production, such as grinding and polishing.
The delicate process of welding demands dedication. You need to study the material’s melting point and behavior and how to handle the tools you’re using.
When you commit to a high level of attention to detail, you can achieve industrial-like precision in a hand-crafted unique piece of art.
Kaaf’s installation artwork was presented in the Darat Al Funun art centre in Amman, Jordan, in 2023.