Coming up at XVA Gallery – Fractal, by Huma Shoaib
Join us from February 07th to March 05th, 2026 for an exhibition that explores chaos as fractal paradox; where perfect, infinite patterns of existence, spirituality and free will will repeat across scales, blurring the line between divine order and self-destructive conflict.
Curatorial Text
The chaos that we’re living in, is it really chaos? Or is it a simple idea repeated infinitely? Causing an illusion of complexity thus giving way to chaos.
Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple geometric design that can be scaled up or down.We know that the structure of existence develops on fractals, be it hidden to the eye or at a cosmic level. As per spiritual concept this presence of fractal construction gives way to the notion of divine being present in every level of reality. There is a sense of perfection and infinity which resonates with One single entity that creates this vastness.
The question arises at this point when everything is being created on a perfect design, then what gives way to chaos. Humans are a part of fractals. Our anatomy, our brain, our biological functions work in a systematic pattern, then how does the desire for destruction and exploitation enter this intricate system? Maybe this is where free will comes in where the structure of fractals becomes complex and turns into chaos. Some theories, like the “Fractal Theory of War,” propose that social and psychological dynamics mirror the brain’s recursive patterns. This suggests that the same drivers of conflict at a small scale (e.g., interpersonal rage) are reflected in large-scale conflicts (e.g., war between nations), making war a self-similar pattern of behavior.
At this point this whole idea seems like a paradox.Perfection and destruction.
Huma’s work tends to go through the process of breaking down this chaos into simple fractal structure. The correlation between spirituality and fractal fabric is basic. Stripping the chaos into nothingness of one’s existence. Similar to the sufic ideology letting go of your ego and your self to become one with the divine. The action of shredding pages from books on war history and realigning mirrors this sufic ideology. In parallel breaking down the poetry text from words into letters and Nuqta (dots) is yet part of the same process.
Artist Statement
As the 17th century Punjabi sufi saint and poet, Bullhay Shah said,
“The whole essence lies in the nuqta (dot)”
In this instance ‘dot’ refers to the minimality of existence.
Age-old beliefs have been glorified and evolved over a period of time in order to feed to certain ideologies and facilitate larger agendas. By using various sacred, religious and political symbols I tend to explore the similarities between different belief systems and political motives.
Significantly influenced by sufi ideologies, my work visually rests as serene and meditative in parallel to the disturbing questions of division and social hierarchy arising from them. Interchangeably, sufi teachings are generally identified as highly individualistic and harmonious practices while being on the contrary- Observing the sporadic existence of dervish from the rise of sufism centuries ago,having being taken a vow of selfless love and distancing from the norms of society, they were and until now are deemed as controversial figures. Their presence brings uneasiness in social settings and questions the elaborate ways of the tediously complicated belief system. Similar to the silent uneasiness I try to achieve through my practice.
Manifesting creatures like bees, birds and fish as symbols for their inter-religious references, geo-location and life cycle. Ornate and complex geometric drawings hailing from centuries of tradition of being adorned with natural pigments and organic materials, whilst I choose to treat them with fluorescent colors that are industrially made and artificial in nature implying towards the need of beliefs becoming more synthetic and fabricated rather than being the innate desire to be spiritual and organic. Consistently moving between these ideas the imagery stands as a metaphor and holds a multitude of meaning. Actions like shredding and restructuring pages from history books on war, reducing words from letters to dots (nuqta). Coming forth as a process of unlearning a plethora of information being fed over a period of time. In totality my practice melts down to a consistent effort in breaking down or simplifying the complexity of fabricated information into the importance of one single entity. One minimal existence that contains all.