Purpose (hand-finished)

Dimensions: 17 x 12 in | 30 x 42 cm

Medium: Hand finished risograph with bleach on black 170 g/m2 paper. Each print has unique characteristics, any imperfections or edgewear is an indication of the hand-crafted process.

Provenance: Hand-numbered and hand-signed by artist. Comes with original Certificate of Authenticity (COA) from publisher.

Edition: Limited Edition of 250 (#90/250)

Year: 2022

Condition: Excellent

ABOUT THE ART

"Seven years in the making, this collaboration with The Jaunt has always had Petra as its focal point. Not only is it a place I have been interested in visiting for the longest time, but as a symbol of civilization, human achievement and culture, it is highly relevant to the context within which I usually develop my artistic practice.

The work that has emerged from this collaboration has less to do with Petra’s breath-taking monuments and striking desert landscapes, and everything to do with its people. Not the myriad tourists, or those who have come from far and wide to work within the framework erected to support them, but the people who have belonged to the land for countless generations: the Bedouins.

During my time in Petra, I had the honour of meeting, experiencing and ultimately understanding the Bedouin way of life. Descendants of the ancient and nomadic Nabataeans, these generous and heart-warming people are intricately connected to their surroundings: the inhospitable desert sand, the scorching heat, the stifling air, the bouldering mountains and their harbouring caves, are part of who they are, both as a community and as individuals. Through lifetimes of experience, knowledge and wisdom, they have perfectly adapted to an environment which is as beautiful as it is punishing, achieving a harmonious way of existing with nature, appreciating that the only true way to achieve this is to recognize that we are also part of it.

Experiencing Petra was having the unique and rare opportunity to live, sleep, eat, drink, talk and learn from the Bedouins. To be welcomed into their homes, be confronted with their traditions and beliefs and witness their symbiotic lifestyle: a way of existing that is so essential, but which has been forgotten by most contemporary societies.

The two limited art editions I worked on capture this essence. They interlace representations of people, places, buildings, practices, traditions and textures that attempt to encapsulate the complexity that is Petra today: a place rich in culture and with a history tracing back several centuries, but that is at grips with the unstoppable current of globalization. A place where the past and present coexist in a palpable balanced tension and where people from all over the world come to marvel at its beauty. But above all else, these works are my way of paying homage to the Bedouin way of life, and represent a true reflection of an experience that has left a profound mark, which will live within me forever. " - Vhils

ARTIST BIO