Expanding Universe abstract mural by artist Hormazd Narielwalla
Expanding Universe is the title of a new body of abstract work made by London-based artist Hormazd Narielwalla using a set of intricate and complex tailoring patterns he acquired on his travels, in conjunction with research conducted in the archives of the Society.
Two themes linked to the map
Two notable themes were spotted during the research conducted at the Society’s Collections. The first is a hand-drawn, coloured chart of the Red Sea used by an unnamed navigator from Gujerat, India, and presented to the Society by Alexander Burnes in 1836. This instantly stood out as when Hormazd was visiting the Society, India successfully landed a space shuttle on the South Pole of the moon.
The ships drawn on the map in the archive act as a metaphor for the Indian shuttle landing on the moon and the assumption that India’s space adventures will continue into the unknown. This also links with colonialism and how map-making in the context of geography was dependent on the Empire.
The second is the extraordinary drawings of monsters, sea creatures and mythical characters on 15th century maps. They were made with thoughts of exploring the unknown. The work includes both themes as they resonated with Hormazd.
Patterns on the mural
The patterns used as the foundation of each panel are intricate with a maze of complex detailing resembling astronomical maps of the universe. Some of them have circles printed on them that look like far-off planets in the abyss of space.
These patterns made for the human body go beyond the landscape and the work transcends into maps of the Universe.
Finally, on a recent trip to Portugal, Hormazd found some beautiful Indian printing woodblocks in decorative circles that he used to print onto the patterns. They reference planets and spatial bodies.
The body of work has been installed in the elegant map room of the Society on a large-scale wall measuring 386 in height and 653 cm in width.
