THE STORY BEHIND 

PART  I  1999 (THE ALGORITHM)

In March 1999 while working in a Singaporean company Cityneon as an exhibition stands designer. A bunch of continuous computer paper, which I normally use for sketching, was accidentally cut by my cutter as I was cutting a foam board on my table; that was under the foam board.

The moment I removed the foam board, I realized I had created a mess with multiple cuts and pop-ups of the continuous computer paper. which led me to my first eureka moment.

Developing this algorithm resulted in both (Paper & Aluminum) sculptures.

PART II  2004 (THE KNOT)

On my way home, I saw an advertisement for an insurance company showing a Square knot as a metaphor for the company's relationship with its customers.

Second eureka moment occurred when I pictured that knot as a tower or building.

In that year, AboGareeb's photographs of prisoners also triggered my imagination. As prisoners were tightly coiled up, knots took on human form later on; in the 2009 exhibition knot construction.

Two exhibitions were the results of the second Eureka: INFINITI LINES-Feb. 2008 & KNOTCONSTRUCTION-Dec. 2009.

PART III   2010 (THE RINGS)

In 2009 I got married. Creating wedding rings was a dream come true, and transforming the aluminium knot sculptures into jewelry was my third eureka moment.

Innovative ring series, to commemorate tying the knot, was created to replicate the fluidity and curves of the knot sculptures which resulted in the exhibition: 2010 Knot Sci-fi Rings.

PART IV  2011 (THE CAPSULE)

Do I need to stop considering knots in my designs, definitely "knot".
 
Made my ring look like a sculpture by adding human figure in it with a sea view with side views; when I had to manipulate it to function as a free-standing sculpture; "since the copyright office wouldn't grant me a copyright for my rings as jewelry items".

What if the human figure were inside the knot itself, which leads to my fourth eureka moment, the Capsule 001.


Thanks to that office clerk who challenged me!

PART  V   2019 (THE SPACESHIP & THE ANDROID)

A Knot spaceship was created while branding my online shop in 2019. Space, was chosen as a theme of inspiration, The Capsule 001 and human/androids were the catalyst for the idea.

How would Capsule 001 look if it flew and walked? In what form will it appear? When I realized my fifth eureka moment, I simply kept it the same.

Both capsule 001 and (Space) ship001 are the same thing, a capsule that walks and flies.

A knot spaceship with androids super powered by Knots, with Scarves reflect the Colony Sculptures, where knot scarves are supercharged by knots creating sheled of Nebula.  

PART VI 2020 (KNOTTY)

KNOTTY is my new creation, in 2020 Due to a series of Covid-19 Lock-Downs "Knot-Downs", of living in uncertainty and isolation, KNOTTY was born "knotted".

It led me to my sixth eureka moment, Knotty character is a true representation of that knot.

PART VII 2020-22 (THE SPACE)

Although being in lockdown is never fun "knot fun!", every day I find myself feeling more and more like I am in a space,"universe!", completely immersed in it.

What are the chances of me being able to draw this universe? The seventh eureka moment came as a result of me asking myself that question.

Consequently, Handmade Digital arts created on my phone with just using a stylus pen and drawing application.

All the digital arts were born from the places and spaces I visited every day in my isolation.

This resulted in online exhibitions: Missing Earth,  [esc].ape and PRE-Sepective, sadly the screen was damaged when it fell down on December 31, 2022 however I managed to get all illustrations from my phone....So more exhibitions to come !

"Faith is more important than imagination & knowledge & A.I." Moosa Silwadi