Rafik Patel
Rafik Patel is a Lecturer in Spatial Design at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Rafik's research examines an Islamic ontology of space, whereby the philosophy becomes the motile thinking for renewing grounds as a spatial architectural practitioner. Through a medium of drawing and print-making, his research explores the notion of Wujūd (Being and Existence) and 'event' as an ontological turn and auto-ethnographic methodology. That is to say, these concepts become the force for rethinking architectural spatial theory and practice. Furthermore, Rafik’s drawings are spatial expositions that map the diasporic conditions and reveal the strength and durability of cultural and spiritual belonging.
Interests
Architecture, Spatial Design, Cultural Studies, Islamic Philosophy (Ibn al-'Arabī)
Publications and Exhibitions
Patel, R. (2022). KAABA: The Heart's Centre - Kashf Al-Makān/Unveiling Spaces of Being. (Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand)
Douglas, C., Gallagher, S., O'Hara, E., Patel, R., & Tapuni, M. (2020). 'Silvering (slowly)': Augmentation, age, and mattering. IDEA Journal, 17(1), 187-204.
Douglas, C., Hedges, S., Patel, R., & Tapuni, M. (2020). Unspecified Project. Scenes of digital media practice in Spatial Design. IDEA Journal, 17(1), 131-148.
Patel, D. R. (2020). The Drawn Revolution: Lebbeus Woods’ Sites of Activism. In L. Harper (Ed.), Real/Material/Ethereal. Monash University, Melbourne.
Patel, R. (2018). Horizon of Being. In Proceedings of the 1st Annual Design Research Conference (ADR18) (pp. 543-551).
Patel, R. (2018). Conflict, Speech, and Truth within the Urban Space of Tahrir Square, (winter), London.. The Urban Transcrpit Journal, 1(4).
Patel, R. (2017). A flowing culture: Images of early Gujarati Indian-Islamic migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand. Transitions: Journal of Transient Migration, 1(2)
Patel, R. (2011). An Opening of Tanwir. Interstices, 12(Unsettled Containers).
Exhibitions:
Patel, D. R., Dutt, S., Rajan, J., Singh, T., Rupa, M., Rupa-Reid, M., & Yatri, S. (2023). Invisible Narratives (No. Of Pieces: Seven Installations) [Artefact]. New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington: New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata.
Patel, R., Yatri, S., Rupa, M., Rajan, J., Singh, T., Dutt, S., & Rupa-Reid, M. (2022). A Place to Stand: Contemporary Indian Art in Aotearoa (No. Of Pieces: Seven pieces) [Artefact]. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hiran - Te Taunga Community Hub: Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira.
Patel, R. (2022). Wujūd fi Ālam al-Mithāl (Being in a World of Images) (No. Of Pieces: Fifteen pieces) [Artefact]. St PAUL Street Galley II, 40 St Paul St, Auckland, New Zealand: St PAUL Street Galley II, Auckland University of Technology.
Patel, R. (2021). In memoriam: A drawn exposition of Wujūd (No. Of Pieces: 13) [Artefact]. St Paul Street Gallery II, Auckland University of Technology: St Paul St Gallery.
Douglas, C., Gallagher, S., O'Hara, E., Patel, R., & Tapuni, M. (2019). Silvering (slowly). Spatial Design Work (No. Of Pieces: 'Elevations (from the ground looking back)': Ink on paper; 3x500x650mm / '1000-line dwelling': knotted silver hair, silver chain, variable lengths / 'Night Stand / 2019 Lunar Index': poplar, clay, glaze, palladium, text; dimensions variable / 'Heavens and Earths': pencil on permatrace; 1x300x840, 2x590x841 / 'code-switching: (M+B) @ruff cuts 005': mixed media )) [Artefact]. St Paul St Gallery 3. 63 Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University of Technology.