| The installations of Rachid Koraïchi are intimately informed by the numerology, signs and ethos of Sufi mysticism. In a work specially commissioned for the October Gallery, 49 brass calligraphic finials stand against an immense hand-embroidered textile piece. 49 is a number charged with significance in Sufism as the square of 7, itself important in the Biblical creation story, the Q'ran and esoteric science. The Paris-based Algerian artist draws on Islamic traditions of calligraphy, textile and ceramic production and Sufi philosophy to create works of universal relevance and impact. The exhibition is timed to coincide with the British Museum's installation of the artist's recently acquired Path of Roses in their Sainsbury African Galleries. |