A point in time

Khalil Rabah has created a set of sculptures that reference an instrument invented in the 11th century CE to measure latitude. The Khwarizmi scholar Al-Biruni described this instrument as a machine that does not require calculation tables. Operators of the machine use only sunlight and the three objects that constitute the instrument to draw diagrams that reveal the latitude of their location.

Rabah deconstructs the tool and enlarges its elements to create a playful arena on a white marble platform, with an engraved diagram indicating the latitude of the Expo 2020 site. In this work, the artist explores the aesthetic aspects of this historical tool by revealing its constituent elements, setting its orbits into motion and inviting the audience to recognise their position on the planet.