God Trip / The One
Earth, Moon, and Star
Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Khalid was smuggled on a camel out of the Soviet–Afghan war zone by his ever courageous young mother. After a few brief stops around the world, he arrived in Canada at the age of three. Khalid’s upbringing was loving and arduous, which forged and honed his philosophy, sensibility, and capability. From his earliest memories to the stories his family loves sharing about him, Khalid has always been inquisitive, artistic, and systematic.
Born and raised into a Muslim family and culture, at some point young Khalid ventured out to learn about other faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Atheism and Star Trek. This spiritual exploration has led him full circle back to Islam. Inspired by Islamic art, Khalid’s most recent artistic work embodies the universal language of math, geometry, singularity, and infinity.
Khalid continues his journey on Earth as an explorer, artist, designer, learner, teacher, mentor, leader, adviser, speaker, organizer, and many other hats he wears. Outside of work, Khalid loves being with his rambunctious wife Lan and creative children Philo + Sophie.
Khalid, also known as Kal, Kalatic, and Kaptain to some, is the founder and CEO of Pixel Dreams.
Religious? No. Spiritual? Yes. In love? Most definitely.
Islam and the study of it, has been a rewarding journey for this artist, designer, and philosopher.
KM, In collaboration with Lannie Lê, Business & Life Partner
April 20, 2022
25 of each size
48” x 80”
Vinyl on gatorboard, or Print on canvas
The Crescent Star, representing the moon and the sun. As observers, we (Earth) are at the center. A medley of geometric patterns, most based on patterns found in the Islamic world. Inspired by Islamic history, architecture, geometry and pattern-making.
Background patterns are based on a variety of tiles found in mosques around the world.
Sun Starbursts: The Great Mosque of Herat, Herat, Afghanistan (1200)
Earth Starbursts: The Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain (1302)
Moon Starbursts: Eighth phases of the moon orbiting Earth
Medium and big Circles: Tilya-Kori Madrasah, Samarkand, Uzbekistan (1646)
Small Circles: The Great Mosque of Kairouan, Kairouan, UTunisia (670)
Octagrams, based on two squares: Abdullah Khan Madrasah, Bukhara (1598)
Large octagram shapes, left and right sides: Esrefoglu Mosque, Beysehir, Turkey (1297), at 30° angle
Sun: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory
Earth: The Blue Marble, NASA/Apollo 17 crew, Harrison Schmitt or Ron Evans, Wikipedia.
Moon: Gregory H. Rivera, Wikipedia/creative commons
Sun: 99 Names of Allah, 1-33
Earth: 99 Names of Allah, 34-66
Moon: 99 Names of Allah, 67-99
Border: بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (see below)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
In the name of God,
The Most Gracious,
The Most Merciful.
