I’ve been working on a series of esoteric Shi’a Muslim portrait illustrations called “The Fourteen Masoomeen,” (Masoomeen meaning “infallibles”) based on the central figures of Twelver Shi’a Islam, where rather than showing the face of the figures, different designs and symbols allude to important moments in their lives. I’ve finished thirteen–The Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali, Fatima Zahra, Imam Hasan, Hussein, Zayn al-Abideen, al-Baqir, as-Sadiq, al-Kadhim, al-Rida, al-Jawad, al-Hadi, and al-Askari–and the last one is Imam Mahdi, who is believed to be alive but hidden from the eyes of man until his time of reappearance occurs. I’m stumped on how to approach his illustration and it might take even years for the correct inspiration to hit me, so have these of his beloved thirteen first… :’)
