My collage, "The Conference of the Birds," threads Farid ud-Din Attar's timeless allegory into the historical grandeur of the Alhambra. And in this imagined world, the Conference of the Birds happens one day each year — offering humans a chance to speak with the Simorgh about life, love, and the universe.

The Alhambra, with its intricate carvings and rich history, is more than just a backdrop. It's a testament to the cultural crossroads of mediaeval Spain, a melting pot of philosophies and ideologies. The spiritual journey of Attar's birds harmonises with the Alhambra's historical resonance as a place of great power, spirituality and cross-cultural exchange. Blending the esoteric Sufi text with the geometric mastery of the Alhambra to create a fusion of past and present that speaks to the eternal desire for understanding and enlightenment.

I read the Conference of the Birds many years ago, when I took a religious studies class at college. The Conference of the Birds was on our reading list for the week we studied Islam.⁠ A masterpiece of Persian literature by Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar.⁠ ⁠In the poem, the birds seek guidance, but have none.⁠ And we come to see how each of the birds represent a flaw that prevents humankind from attaining enlightenment.⁠ I'm not a religious or spiritual man. I find faith in hope, fairness, kindness & the mind-blowing wonder of no one reeeeeeeally knowing what's going on in this topsy-turvy place we all call home. But a good story—be it religious or not—never fails to move me.⁠ The best stories shift my focus so much that I never see our world the same way again. And the Conference of the Birds is on my list of life-changers.

Sources Of Inspiration

The Conference Of The Birds • The Neverending Story • Labyrinth • Moorish Menageries • Andalucia