This story was reported by Arab News.
Radiant Arts, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global fine arts platform, opened its latest exhibition, Noorun ala Noor – Light Upon Light, on Tuesday, 19th November, 2025 at Koel Gallery in Karachi.
Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, inaugurated the exhibition and lauded the community’s commitment to cultural enrichment. He expressed hope that Radiant Arts would continue to flourish, inspire young artists, and make a positive impact on the region’s artistic landscape.
Established in 2017, Radiant Arts is a woman-led platform that connects and showcases Bohra artists worldwide and has curated fourteen national and international exhibitions.
“For those who believe in the metaphysics of the celestial world, our birth charts and zodiacs play a role in shaping our character and, consequently, the course of our lives” – Luluwa Lokhandwala
This year’s show features seventeen artists from around the world working across a wide range of mediums, including gold-gilded Arabic geometry, large-scale quilling, textile installations, sculptural reinterpretations, botanical impressions, architectural photography, and mixed-media compositions. Drawing its theme from the Holy Quran’s Ayah al-Noor, the exhibition gathered artists’ varied interpretations of illumination and light.
“A single ray pierces the darkness, resting upon the words of divine revelation” – Ibrahim Lokhandwala
Houston-based Zahra Ammar, a quilling artist whose pieces seek to communicate through the seamless symmetry of paper, said, “Noorun ala Noor reminds me that light is not merely seen, but felt — it is an act of presence, of witnessing the sacred within the ordinary. I hope my pieces invite viewers into the quiet dialogue where geometry and colour converge into a moment of stillness and grace.”
“My work explores the microcosm and macrocosm of the universe through sacred geometry, reflecting on the Quran’s themes of unity and harmony” – Alefiyah Abbas
Curator Alefiyah Abbas described the exhibition as “more than a collection of works; it is a meditation.
“Bringing together an extraordinary constellation of artists from across the globe is a testament to how art unifies people across demographics.”
“Nafas is a quiet reflection on the breath. Through gold thread and gentle watercolour washes, I sought to capture the stillness hidden within the breath” – Umme Hani Tinwala
Throughout the opening, artists discussed influences ranging from Fatimi architecture and natural pigments to celestial concepts and personal reflection.
“Like a labyrinth of blossoms, nature reveals Divine Light. Each petal, branch, and seed may seem scattered, yet together they lead us inward to harmony, renewal, and the heart of creation” – Fatema Husain
Rubain Ali, a Karachi-based designer artist, spoke about her artwork as a source of devotion. “Art, like light, is universal and each artist invokes the spirituality within in their own manner,” she said.
Radiant Arts continues to provide a space for artists and creatives to connect, collaborate and share their talent. In supporting artists and deepening cultural dialogue, it believes art can act as a bridge between communities through its unifying language.
Noorun Alaa Noor – Light Upon Light will remain on display at Koel Gallery until 12 December 2025.