Wafa - Devotion from the collection of RadiantArts

Wafa - Devotion, 2025

Hand-painted silk with gold and gutta resist technique

17 x 20 in

Inv: IQ2.2

Available

‘Lotus of Love’ continues the journey begun in the earlier series ‘Lotus of Light,’ moving from purity to the love of peace, for the stillness beneath all that moves. It mirrors the artist’s own path as a woman, as a mother, as one discovering that peace begins within, and when nurtured, radiates outward. Each painting traces a meditative journey: a quiet movement from restlessness to calm, from control to surrender, revealing that peace is not a destination, but a way of being. Painted on silk, where color flows on its own terms and one can only guide, never command. This five-part series explores the gentle transformative nature of peace.

Blues and pinks capture chaos, whilst greens and pale azures reveal harmony. White embodies the purity and sincerity, while gold dust, like sunlight on water, speaks of the quiet grace that emerges when the heart rests. At times, paired lotuses appear, a reminder that peace grows stronger when shared.

Across cultures, the lotus carries rich, layered symbolism that deepens this narrative. In Indian tradition, it represents spiritual awakening, and the unfolding of one’s deepest self. In Islamic thought, it symbolizes transcendence — the soul’s ascent from murky waters to clarity and faith. Lotus of Love draws from these meanings to show how peace, too, rises from complexity into clarity.

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About the artist

Sakeenah Behlah

Sakeenah Behlah is an artist based in the UAE. She completed her three-year diploma in Interior Design from Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai. After a few years in the field, her creative journey transitioned from designing spaces to exploring her own inner space—her self. This profound shift reconnected her with an old passion: painting. In 2018, her exploration of this medium culminated in a well-received collection with the Radiant Arts collective exhibition.

Painting on silk is a dialogue of fluidity and faith, and the medium is unpredictable and alive, constantly moving between control and surrender. For Sakeenah, it mirrors life itself—grace lies not in mastery, but in attunement. She embraces the mystery and rhythm of silk, allowing it to lead her toward what wishes to emerge. Her style is playful, intuitive, and organic, often drawing inspiration from nature. Her work explores the theme of the "self" and its ongoing conversation with the world around it.

Alongside her artistic practice, Sakeenah is part of a community initiative called Nisbat Zahabiyah, which supports women seeking balance between family, work, and personal growth. The program helps them to become steady within themselves, and in turn, a source of strength for those around them.