Multimedia Exhibition: Space Mosque
Saks Afridi, an artist whose work has been recognized by the United Nations, Artforum, and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” is currently showcasing his multimedia exhibition “SpaceMosque” at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Thursday, August 29, at 7:30 p.m. Afridi and the exhibition’s curator, Sadaf Padder, will discuss the exhibition in an online talk presented by BMAC. The event is free, but registration is required through the museum’s website.
The process of creating “SpaceMosque” began in 2017. The work is a unique blend of Islamic mysticism, South Asian folklore, science fiction, architecture, calligraphy, and technology. The exhibition tells the story of a futuristic vessel called the SpaceMosque, which grants each human on Earth one prayer every 24 hours, adapting its appearance to each individual. These prayers become a form of currency, leading to both miracles and tragedies, before the SpaceMosque mysteriously disappears from collective memory.
Afridi’s background in marketing and design, combined with his global upbringing, informs his exploration of themes such as capitalism, spirituality, historical narrative, and speculative imagination. He describes his work as part of a genre he invented called “Sci-Fi Sufism,” which invites viewers to explore inner worlds and question the impact of their prayers on themselves and humanity.
Born in Pakistan and now based in New York City, Afridi has exhibited his work globally. He describes his artistic journey as one of an “Insider Outsider,” balancing feelings of belonging with a sense of displacement, and finding joy in temporary states. His work re-contextualizes historical and cultural narratives through a contemporary lens.
THE STORY OF SPACEMOSQUE
“If all your prayers were answered, would it change the world, or just yours?”
— Unknown
Around the turn of the millennium, a global phenomenon occurred that has since been erased from our memories. A large Vessel hovered soundlessly in the skies over Karachi, Pakistan. This stunning phenomenon grew in a matter of days, as the Vessel appeared over other cities, villages, and towns. It was seen simultaneously by everyone around the world, but each person saw something different. Some saw an elaborate minaret. Others described a magnificent winged butterfly. The Vessel seen over Karachi was described as a futuristic mosque. This phenomenon of the Vessel became known as SpaceMosque.
What SpaceMosque did upon its arrival was to answer one prayer for each human being on the planet every 24 hours. The Vessel was a spiritually conscious spaceship, an energy station, and a prayer gateway. Its divine algorithms and foresight technology determined the selection of prayers it chose to answer.
During its time hovering over the Earth, the Vessel answered billions of prayers. Our global reality changed overnight. The impact of the Vessel’s arrival led to both great miracles and great tragedies. Greed and morality were at constant war, and prayer eventually became a de facto universal currency.
As abruptly as it appeared, the Vessel vanished. People’s memories of its existence vanished, too, save for a few remnants of glitched stories and artifacts spread around the globe. We do not know the reason for the Vessel’s arrival or departure, but our research findings reveal that global riots resulting from the commodification of prayers may have led to the latter. A popular theory among researchers is that enough people on the planet prayed for the Vessel to leave and all to be forgotten. Others believe that perhaps it was just a divine experiment. (Quoted from Brattleboro Museum & Art Center)
About Saks Afridi:
Afridi studied advertising at the Academy of Art in San Francisco and sculpture at the Art Students League of New York. He has received numerous accolades, including the D&AD Pencil Award and a United Nations Award for Peace and Understanding. His work has been featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, Al Jazeera, and CNN.
About the Curator, Sadaf Padder:
Sadaf Padder is a Brooklyn-based independent curator, writer, and community organizer. Her work focuses on under-recognized contemporary art movements, particularly those connected to the South Asian and Caribbean diaspora. She curates with an emphasis on themes such as:
- Social justice
- Futurism
- Radical liberation movements
- Climate change
- Neo-mythology
Padder believes Afridi’s work, by centering on Sufism, expands understanding of an often-misrepresented religion, opening conversations about identity, tradition, and world-building beyond colonial narratives.
Exhibition Details:
“SpaceMosque” is on view at BMAC through October 19. The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, founded in 1972, presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, alongside lectures, artist talks, and film screenings. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, the museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission courtesy of M&T Bank. For more information, visit brattleboromuseum.org or contact the museum directly.
Reported by: Eagle Times
