Arezou Moeini’s Sky Within is a suspended sculptural installation crafted from acrylic laser-cut modules that form a 3-dimensional abstraction of an ancient geometric pattern called Shamseh and Chalipa in the Persian language. Shamseh (meaning “little sun) is an 8-point star motif that often symbolizes light as the unifying source of creation. Chalipa (meaning “cross”) typically symbolizes the continuous cycle of life. Together, these common motifs form a periodic pattern that appears in art and architecture across South and West Asia, Europe, and Egypt and each culture has imbued it with a different set of meanings and interpretations.

Sky Within offers a contemporary interpretation of this ancient pattern through the use of modern materials and technology. Inspired by her studies of Iranian architecture and tilework, Moeini began with the design and construction acrylic of modules representing the Chalipa. Once the modules were assembled using magnets and strings, the shape of Shamseh appeared in the negative spaces between the modules. The repetition of these alternating motifs creates a luminous crystalline structure with the capacity for perpetual growth and transformation.

Each acrylic module is laminated with a simultaneously transparent and reflective prismatic film in order to visually mimic the characteristics of sunlight and to maximize the interaction of the piece with ambient light. The prismatic colors of the piece change with the time of day and the position of the viewer, creating a dynamic experience that celebrates the diversity and potential that exists within the unified fabric of creation.

Moeini began working on Sky Within during the COVID-19 lockdown, and the construction process continued through the subsequent period of deadly protests in Iran and escalating sociopolitical division and turmoil across the world. This work enabled her to examine her feelings of isolation, personal loss, and uncertainty with a universal lens. She maintained a sense of connection, clarity, and hope through the meditative process of studying and re-imagining these enduring and familiar motifs that have transcended geographic, cultural, and temporal boundaries to remind us of our shared origin and destiny.

Sky Within is an invitation for introspection and contemplation of the essential truths that unify all of creation. Moeini also views this piece as an homage to humanity’s eternal struggle to make sense of existence.