Horeen Amjad’s solo exhibition at Ocean Art Gallery reaffirms the power of slow, deliberate making, where material, time and devotion converge with the act of creating. Working with clay, a medium that requires immense patience, precision and sustained focus, her practice reflects a deep commitment to process and craft. Each carved surface, nuanced tone, and carefully form contour reveals a quiet contemplative approach to creation.

Trained in art and design, Horeen approaches hand-built ceramic murals as vessels of personal reflection, where emotion is shaped through disciplined making. Drawing on the ornamental language of Islamic illumination, her work integrates intricate patterning and surface detail to honour tactile tradition while extending its relevance within contemporary artistic framework.

Horeen shares, “I set out to create intricate murals inspired by Iznik patterns, integrating them with Quranic calligraphy to reflect both aesthetic harmony and spiritual depth. This project became a journey of patience, devotion and craftsmanship. I began by sketching Iznik motifs, carefully merging them with selected Quranic verses to form unified compositions. These drawings were then transferred onto clay slabs prepared according to the design dimensions. Using a range of tools, I meticulously carved out the negative spaces, shaping every detail by hand. Once the carving was completed each mural was cut not in a rigid grid, but along subtle, organic angles that preserved the integrity of the design. The process was both meditative and demanding. Over 2.5 years, I hand carved 32 murals, refining each piece to achieve a clean and balanced finish. Colour application introduced another layer of complexity. I used imported oxide stains, finely grounded to achieve a smooth pigment. Preparing and applying these colours with rigorous, but essential to bringing depth and vibrancy to the world. Ceramics, however, are not complete without glazing, a step that ensures permanence and luminosity. For this I travelled from Lahore to Multan to glaze and fire the murals at a ceramic facility. Each fragile piece was packed with utmost care, layered in thermocole, foam sheets and secured with wooden boards to ensure safe transport. When framing was done, I applied 24 carat gold leaf paper onto murals to give it a luminous look which describes my subject, ‘Iznik Illumination’.”

The exhibition affirms Horeen’s practice is grounded in patience, commitment, talent and skill coming together beautifully.

CAPTION:
Hand-built ceramics, 24 carat gold leaf, 28 x 28 inches
Hand-built ceramics, 19 x 19 inches
Hand-built ceramics, 24 carat gold leaf, 22 x 22 inches
Hand-built ceramics, 20 x 20 inches
Hand-built ceramics, 22 x 35 inches
Hand-built ceramics, 24 carat gold leaf, 22 x 33 inches
Hand-built ceramics, 24 carat gold leaf, 31 x 24 inches
Hand-built ceramics, 10 diameter
Hand-built ceramics, 13 x 20 inches