Artist’s statement: 

“Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.”— Prophet Muhammad [Peace be upon him]

Quotes like this by Prophet Muhammad [Sallallahu alaihi Wasallama] often reminds me that nothing is as beautiful, joyful and gratifying as birth. And of course, nothing is as dreadful, nightmarish and eerie as death. 89% of people on earth were willingly given birth to, with full intention. Whereas only 11% of people on earth left with full intention of leaving it. What we forget is that death is a beautiful thing. Death is a savior. Death is another home we run to when every door closes. Death is a mother that never lets its child run-out. Death is a lullaby that sings and dances the night with us— even when dawn approaches. Death is a Divine palace where we live, freely without sin or sadness.

METAPHORICAL ROUTE is an astrophotographic visual art I made while recalling a Hadith, often attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib where he said:— “Live in this world as though you will live forever, and live for the Hereafter as though you will die tomorrow.”

So— imagine this earth as a dyke, as a road and a passageway of living and dying. You just have to choose the way you live, even though no way of dying could be decided.

Artist’s Biography

Abubakar Auwal, TPC VIII, Pushcart Prize Nominee, is a Nigerian teen author of Portrait Of gods As Metaphors; 1st runner up Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors (forthcoming—Poetry, 2024) and Portrait of Broken Metaphors; Winner, ArtingArena Poetry Chapbook Contest. He was the winner of Splendors of Dawn Poetry and Short Story Competition (February-April, 2023). Also a finalist for BPKW Poetry Contest, AIPFEST24 Poetry Slam, PIN National Poetry Slam—25, NYTH Poetry Contest & long-listed for Brigitte Poirson Poetry Prize, Akachi Chuku-emeka Literature Prize, Blessing Kolajo Poetry Prize and others. He has his works Published/Forthcoming with Eunoia Review, Lolwe, Arts Lounge Magazine, The Carrier Bag, The MAAR Review, The Beatnik Cowboy, After Happy Hour Review, Naked Cat Lit, Iceflow Press, SUBNIVEAN, Cajun Mutt Press, Lilac Journal and elsewhere. You can access some of his works through this link; https://linktr.ee/AbubakarAuwal

@abuba_karauwal Instagram

@saddiq89 Twitter