A Veiled Gazelle Bookmark
A collaboration with the Museum of Jurassic Technology
A six-month collaboration with the Museum of Jurassic Technology resulted in a custom bookmark for their 2024 exhibit "A Veiled Gazelle: Intimations of the Infinite and Eternal"
This exhibit celebrated the art and philosophy of Ibn al-Arabi and the geometric traditions of Al-Andalus in medieval Spain. It was presented as a part of the Getty Museum's Pacific Standard Time initiative.
The Finished Bookmark
From Ancient Ottoman Design to Modern Art
The bookmark's design is based on a 500-year-old Ottoman pattern from the era of Selim II, originally adorning a box that contained a precious Quran.
This masterpiece of Ottoman geometric art was carefully studied, extracted, and reinterpreted to capture the spirit of Ibn al-Arabi's mystical poetry and philosophy.
The original inlay design was meant to protect and honor sacred texts - a fitting inspiration for a bookmark celebrating spiritual and intellectual exploration.
The Creative Process
Hand-drawn sketches evolved into digital designs through months of refinement
Each iteration brought us closer to a design that would meet the museum's exacting standards while honoring the exhibit's themes of infinite connection and eternal beauty.
The final design features custom Arabic calligraphy and precise geometric patterns, laser-etched into shimmering gold stainless steel.
Light catches and dances across the metallic surface, creating an almost mystical quality that reflects the spiritual nature of the exhibit.
About the Exhibit
The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City, California, presented "A Veiled Gazelle: Intimations of the Infinite and Eternal" as part of the Getty's Pacific Standard Time initiative.
This extraordinary exhibit explored the mystical poetry and philosophy of Ibn al-Arabi, the 13th-century Andalusian mystic, alongside the stunning geometric art and architecture of Al-Andalus.
Learn more about the exhibit: Pacific Standard Time | Museum of Jurassic Technology
