Suwayda, 2025 ​

Water color on paper

40x50cm 

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* Nuqta al-Suwayda — The Black Dot of the Heart *

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At the beginning of every line, every word, every universe, there is a dot. The dot is both the smallest and the greatest. It is still, yet holds infinite motion. It is the origin of language, geometry, the universe - and the heart of man.

In Bauhaus, the dot is the essence of design: the seed of line, form, and color. Every geometry, every composition, every structure is born from this smallest unit. Bauhaus reduced art to its purest elements - circle, square, triangle - just as Arabic calligraphy begins with a single nuqta (dot).

In Arabic tradition, the dot beneath the letter ب”) B”) is said to hold the secret of creation - the kernel of knowledge, the essence of the heart, the gateway between the seen and the unseen. The dot takes on spiritual and cultural depth.

This sacred dot, called Nuqta al-Suwayda is the dense blood clot in the heart: is described in Sufi philosophy as the hidden center of love. Only true lovers and the innocent can touch this precious "being". The doorway between the human and the divine. It is both micro and macro: the atom, the seed, the star, the galaxy. The dot is where existence begins and where it returns. Still yet infinite, small yet containing the cosmos.

My work reimagines this primordial symbol through the lens of Bauhaus clarity and Arab spiritual modernism. A large red Arabic ب dominates the canvas, partially cropped - as if infinite beyond the frame. Crossing its body is a vertical sequence of blue circles, the phases of the moon, culminating in a gold-leaf full moon placed where tradition locates the dot of ب: a radiant seed, the heart’s hidden light.

The dot is no longer just a mark, but a cosmos folded into a seed: the hidden pulse of the universe, the secret of the heart, the story of becoming.

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Zuleyha CELIK  

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Born in 1988 in Istanbul, Turkey, she was immersed in a city steeped in history, where art and architecture intertwine in a mesmerizing tapestry. Istanbul's unique position bridging Europe and Asia exposed her to diverse artistic styles from a young age, shaping her creative outlook.

From childhood, she wielded a pen and paper with fervor, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for artistic expression. Pursuing her first love, she embarked on a journey in Graphic Design in Istanbul, where she honed her skills amidst the vibrant cultural landscape. However, her artistic curiosity knew no bounds, leading her to pursue further studies in Interior Architecture and Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

During her time in San Francisco, she embraced a multifaceted approach to creativity. Balancing her studies with part-time work in Graphic Design, particularly in branding for restaurants, she found herself immersed in the dynamic intersection of design and commerce. Additionally, her burgeoning interest in photography flourished as she undertook photo shoots for a tech company in Berkeley, California. Her academic pursuits culminated in the honor of receiving the President’s Honors twice, a testament to her dedication and commitment to excellence. Yet, beyond academic accolades, her true passion lies in the transformative power of architecture.

Drawing from her experiences across different countries and cultures, she now finds herself residing in the vibrant community of New York University Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, alongside her husband and two daughters. Here, amidst the rich tapestry of global influences, she continues to draw inspiration for her artistic endeavors as an emerging artist.

As she embarks on this journey, she is guided by a singular vision: to harness the beauty of nature and the potential of technology to create eco-friendly, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing environments for humanity. Whether wielding a paintbrush or drafting blueprints, her heart races with excitement at the prospect of collaborating with fellow artists to bring beauty and harmony to society.

As Alvar Aalto said, “Building art is a synthesis of life in materialized form. We should try to bring in under the same hat not a splintered way of thinking, but all in harmony together.”