THE DAR PROJECT
 

In December of 2020, entrepreneur and art collector Omar Dar contacted multi-disciplinary artist Eric Breish about commissioning a large metal work of art. The scale was Eric’s largest metal work to date at five feet wide and eight feet tall. It was to serve as a reminder of Omar’s Muslim faith or rather a rediscovery of a faith he hadn’t practiced since his youth. The work of art was intended to be larger than self to symbolize that faith is larger than our physical realities. As the viewer stands before it, its physical presence towering above, glittering under overhead light, it feels divine. The energy radiates off its dimensional surface. As the viewer moves around it, its holographic nature places the viewer in a mesmerized state as lines of light dance across the 99 symbols that represent the 99 names of Allah. In the center, the largest symbol represents Allah bringing the total to 100 three-dimensional aluminum cutouts. These cutouts are affixed on a scored aluminum panel that creates another layer of holographic strokes to make the piece sparkle like the facets of a diamond. To stand in front of it is to witness a true work of art conceived by two individuals with varied backgrounds of faith and philosophies, but who worked hand in hand to realize a unified vision. And so, “Vessel” was born into existence.

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As the project began, Omar wanted to document the process of the creation of Vessel. Every aspect was captured over the 9 month process. As the piece neared completion, Eric kept looking at the large aluminum sheet from which the symbols were cut as it sat in the corner waiting for recycling. The idea arose to create a second piece, the Vessel Lightbox, of equal size but that provided a completely new viewing experience. The idea was to create a custom “shadow box” that was skillfully engineered to allow a LED light system to shine through the missing Arabic symbols. Controllable through an app on an iphone, the owner can configure the piece to shine in a variety of colors and movements at the touch of a button that looks incredible at night. During the day, the viewer can enjoy the same holographic movement as the original piece with a faint glow of the LED’s on the surface. The duality of the work really is night and day.

Once the two pieces were complete, and the documentary began to take shape, Eric realized how important the story was to both artist and collector. Now there were two monumental works of art derived off the same set of materials and idea. There was an account of the pieces being physically built and discussions between Eric and Omar of why the project was conceptualized to begin with. The project was well rounded but was missing another facet. One that would bring the story to the masses and create interest in the project as a whole. The answer was to create an NFT. The first of its kind, a contemporary work of art, based on a unique medium that represented the Muslim faith. As of the writing of this document, artist and collector are unaware of anything like it both physically or digitally in the world.

The Dar Project NFT sold for 300 ETH which put it amongst the highest selling NFT’s in the primary market. As an added value to the NFT, the Vessel Lightbox was included in the NFT sale as an unlockable feature. With the project complete and the NFT sale etched on the Etherium blockchain for all eternity, the entire project is now being shopped to museums so the story and artwork can be shared with the masses.

As the project began, Omar wanted to document the process of the creation of Vessel. Every aspect was captured over the 9 month process. As the piece neared completion, Eric kept looking at the large aluminum sheet from which the symbols were cut as it sat in the corner waiting for recycling. The idea arose to create a second piece, the Vessel Lightbox, of equal size but that provided a completely new viewing experience. The idea was to create a custom “shadow box” that was skillfully engineered to allow a LED light system to shine through the missing Arabic symbols. Controllable through an app on an iphone, the owner can configure the piece to shine in a variety of colors and movements at the touch of a button that looks incredible at night. During the day, the viewer can enjoy the same holographic movement as the original piece with a faint glow of the LED’s on the surface. The duality of the work really is night and day.

Once the two pieces were complete, and the documentary began to take shape, Eric realized how important the story was to both artist and collector. Now there were two monumental works of art derived off the same set of materials and idea. There was an account of the pieces being physically built and discussions between Eric and Omar of why the project was conceptualized to begin with. The project was well rounded but was missing another facet. One that would bring the story to the masses and create interest in the project as a whole. The answer was to create an NFT. The first of its kind, a contemporary work of art, based on a unique medium that represented the Muslim faith. As of the writing of this document, artist and collector are unaware of anything like it both physically or digitally in the world.

 
 
 

Vessel

The Dar Project - 1 of 3

- 60x96x1” (Framed)
- Oil and Varnish on Aluminum
- Created 2021

 
 
 

Vessel
Lightbox

The Dar Project - 2 of 3

- 60x96x4
- Oil, Varnish, Wood, Enamel, and
LED Light Strips
- Created 2021

 
 
 
 

Echo

The Dar Project - 3 of 3

Created 2021

“Echo,” The Dar Project NFT video, is a visual interpretation of the Islamic call to prayer and the process of going through the practice of prayer. The video is filmed entirely off the physical work of art, the Vessel Lightbox, and then layered with effects in post-production. It’s a nod to the physical piece itself, but stands on its own as a visual work of digital art, set on a 29 second loop.

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The video begins with a section of the painting in its raw form, without lights activated, representing one’s mind before the ritual of prayer. As the video begins, the symbols illuminate and move around the frame representing the thoughts in one’s mind that begin to form and dissipate within consciousness. This process repeats until a rhythm forms and a clear mind comes to fruition. Symbols in the video begin to ebb and flow into blurry blobs of light, while the large symbol of Allah continues to present itself in the middle of the frame—the main focus of prayer. Eventually, the state of steady mental focus and clarity is reached as all symbols dissolve into unrecognizable patterns of light and color.

 
 
 
 
 

The
Making of

 
 

The makers

eric breish, Artist/NFT Creator

Eric is a multi-disciplinary artist based out of San Antonio, TX. Eric works primarily in metal based art, but incorporates other mediums like painting, collage, digital design and photography into his varying bodies of work to create a unique visual aesthetic. Eric’s work can be found in private and public collections around the world.

ericbreish.com / @eric_breish_art

chris lopez, Cinematographer/Editor

Chris is a filmmaker based out of San Antonio, TX. He founded Squinted Cinema to create exploratory storytelling through all mediums of film production. A visual curator of moving moments, Lopez’s work articulates his artistic expression that resonates with connection and collaboration with others to help find their purpose through motion storytelling.

squintedcinema.com / @squintedcinema