Turkish artist Seçkin Pirim has designed a permanent site-specific sculpture for the JOALI BEING welbeing retreat in the Bodufushi Island of the Maldives.

Named Gate of Zero, the undulating form of the installation is inspired by the semazen’s flared white skirt, which represents letting go of the ego, cleansing the soul and arriving at “zero”, the indefinable point at which true introspection becomes possible.

JOALI BEING is the only nature-immersive wellbeing island retreat of its kind in the Maldives and houses Seçkin Pirim's sculpture acts a gateway where its visitors feel like a liberation of the soul. 

The island is surrounded "by ethereal lagoons and brimming with lush coconut palms, our secluded island is tucked away in the far northern reaches of the Maldives," as described by JOALI BEING.  

For visitors, Gate of Zero is the only passage to the small island. Bearing a repetitive form, this structure is a reflection of “one to whole” understanding of the artist, which is essential to his oeuvre.

"As you arrive at our isle of transcendence, your gaze alights on the Gate of Zero. Let its spiritual symbolism speak to your soul and bring you onto the path of self-transformation," said JOALI BEING. 

"To fully understand this masterpiece, we must travel back to 13th century Turkey…."

"Steeped in the mystical philosophy of the poet Rumi, the ceremony of Sufi whirling is born." 

"Each garment, each gesture and each movement of the semazen (whirling dervish) is encoded with hidden meanings. Becoming a conduit of divine love, the dancer conveys this spiritual gift to those witnessing the ritual. As he spins from right to left in a spiritual trance, he embraces all of humanity."

"Our storied masterpiece draws inspiration from the semazen’s flared white skirt, which represents letting go of the ego, cleansing the soul and arriving at “zero”, the indefinable point at which true introspection becomes possible," JOALI BEING added in a project description.

JOALI BEING describes the installation as "a space to converse with the self. A quest that takes you from being to becoming." 

Seçkim Pirim is one of leading contemporary artists. His works and sculptures explore form, colour and pattern and are informed by the relationship between object & space, nature & culture, and art & design.

His work evokes the vision of a post-futurist, post-constructivist, and post-minimal world.

Born in Ankara, Turkey, Pirim's works were exhibited in numerous exhibitions at local and international art institutions and galleries, the artist has received more than 20 awards in sculpture and design. 

Pirim's works have been exhibited at several international institutions including Borusan Sanat, Pera Museum, Museum Haus Konstruktiv, Glory Yeh Museum & Sculpture Park, Yverdon-les-Bains and Saatchi Gallery.

A permanent installation for Louis Vuitton's new store at Istinyepark, Istanbul, Turkey in 2021, a permanent installation, called In Between, in 2021, a marble installation, called Soul, in 2021, the work of Gate of Quantum in 2021, are among his key works. 

All images © JOALI BEING

> via Seçkin Pirim