i could never stress enough the beauty that lays in deeply trusting the divinity in all things. my existence, i’m coming to realize, is an experiment in how deep that trust is in practice. it made this piece in muharram (the first month of the islamic lunar calendar) and the first ten days (iykyk) have now come and gone. every year, for as long as i can remember, this time has been held with so much reverence. the commemoration of a man and his family in a land called karbala and their insistence on staying aligned to truth, and justice and the light, no matter the outcome. how those lessons hold so much weight today. ‎ما رأيت إلا جميلا “i saw nothing but beauty” words spoken by the sister of this man when asked to describe the scene. ashura (the tenth day) is a pillar in my value set, a major aspect of my makeup and each year acts as a reset, if i have wavered (as we do) from it. this year, in the midst of stormy waters, i personally benefited from the grounding that came in being reminded, remembering, and holding on to what matters most. or at least striving toward that in an embodied, sustained way. the aim is to see things / feel things with the eyes to truly understand the blessings that are constantly being bestowed. how zainab saw things. as is the case with my work, there are always more points of perspective to land on, more entendres at play. another one being an assertion that beauty as an expression to transmute all this (insert expletive) has merit. this at a time when i was losing sight. trust me when i say i’m holding on.

tahsine al hassane

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i am a first-generation canadian daughter of the diaspora with cultural roots in east africa, india, west asia and north america. my name is arabic and means to enrich, or beautify, so it is fitting i have always been drawn to the arts, finding solace and expression in creating beautiful things with an overarching intent on progression and evolution. i work interdisciplinarily in collage, textile and sculpture. my work is a constant iteration, gradually shifting over time, pushing and pulling myself, and those engaging with it, (gently) towards reflection and critical thought. i explore considerations in a myriad of themes — time, space, pace, society, culture, identity, equity, empathy, energy, purpose, and potential — all contributing to our collective states and the spectrum of (well)being. i am a human (be-ing) and a mother of two bright stars/precious seeds and those aspects of self deeply inform my practice.