Ten Stages of Ishq, 2025

Text-Based Digital Poster, Conceptual Rendering

Ten Stages of Ishq is a visual journey that explores love beyond the surface. Inspired by Sufi thought and the idea of Ishq-e-Haqiqi, or spiritual love and love for the Divine, this work looks at how the human heart transforms on its way to meet something greater than itself.

The idea of passing through stages of love comes from Sufi poetry and philosophy. In this tradition, love is not just a feeling but a path of inner work. Each stage reflects a deeper emotional and spiritual state, moving from initial attraction toward complete openness and surrender.

On this path, a seeker is invited to purify the heart and actions. In Sufism, this means letting go of ego, pride, and selfish desires in order to become closer to the Divine. The stages do not represent strict steps that must be followed. Instead, they are a way to think about the gradual shift from self-centered love to a love that is pure and all-encompassing.

The frames in this series grow larger with each stage. This growth shows the expansion of love, the breaking of the self, and the journey from longing to a deeper connection. The final stage, called Fanaa, means to lose the self and arrive at a place of peace and presence. Instead of a frame, this last stage stands open, representing ultimate freedom and unity.