Artworks

Mountain 6 (2023) is a marble pentaptych depicting K2, the world’s second-highest peak at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). Straddling the Karakoram range between Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region and China-administered territory, K2 is renowned for its pyramidal form and extreme climbing difficulty. In Abbas’ work, its stark contrast of white snow and rugged rock symbolizes the pursuit of perfection and truth.

For years, Hamra Abbas has explored Pietra Dura—a traditional marble inlay technique—pushing it beyond its historical function to forge a new aesthetic language. Introduced to Mughal India by Florentine artisans in the 16th century, this technique is deeply tied to Mughal architecture, where garden motifs symbolize paradise, mortality, and the ideal coexistence of humanity and nature. Abbas reinterprets these themes, uncovering the symbolic dialogue between nature, architecture, and color.