MYSTIC EXPRESSIONS
4–12 OCTOBER
This exhibition presents the outcomes of the Mystic Art Workshops project, held at Backlit Gallery, Nottingham. Over a five-week period, participants came together for a series of creative sessions exploring Sufism—its teachings, practices, and meanings across different cultures and geographies.
Each workshop focused on core Sufi principles, from purification of the soul to the challenging of the ego. Through discussion, reflection, and shared experience, these ideas were translated into visual form. The resulting paintings and drawings carry the imprint of mystic expression—individual journeys shaped by collective dialogue. Many works reflect the central Sufi message of tolerance, interfaith understanding, and the unity of humanity in love for the divine.
Music played a vital role throughout the workshops. Each session featured live performance by Sufi musician Rubaya Pirzada, whose melodies created an atmosphere of reflection and togetherness. Participants often spoke of a “we-feeling” that emerged during these sessions—an embodied sense of community that crossed boundaries of background and belief. Immersed in this environment, they found themselves able to produce artworks that were both deeply personal and spiritually resonant.
The project also highlights the practice of BACKLIT studio artist Neelum Aftab, who initiated and developed the workshops. Alongside facilitating participants’ work, she has created her own new series of paintings in response to the shared exploration. These works reflect not only the themes of Sufi practice but also the ways in which dialogue, exchange, and live music have influenced her creative process.
Together, the works on display demonstrate how Sufi traditions continue to inspire contemporary art-making, offering a space where reflection, creativity, and community converge.
