The Amazing Asma and Her Dashing Deer Ed. 1 of 50

In my digital collage, "The Amazing Asma and Her Dashing Deer," I channel the spirit of Asma Bint Shihab al-Sulayhiyya, a powerful Yemeni queen who defied stereotypes by governing with her face uncovered.

Surrounding Asma, miniature deer dance in lockstep on the wing of a bright pink plane — soaring through a sunset sky. Embodying the symbolism of Yaʽfūr in Islamic tradition. In myths and artistic motifs, deer often symbolise femininity and the fleeting passage of human life. Their graceful dance around Asma is a reminder of the transient nature of life and the enduring power of legacy.

And the name "Asma" connects the artwork to several influential Islamic women, not just Asma Bint Shihab al-Sulayhiyya. Women such as Aṣmāʼ bint Marwān, a 7th-century poet whole dared to express her thoughts in an era when women's voices were often silenced. Her poetry was a testament to her courage, her words a weapon against oppression. Or Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, was a paragon of bravery and faith.

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ABOUT ME
Born in Sydney, I spent my childhood surrounded by artists, oddballs and academics. They taught me to question everything. Respectfully and without fear.

Twenty-two countries and four continents later, I can find home anywhere with WiFi and a hearty chunk of intrigue. It's because of them, and I'm forever grateful.

ABOUT MY ART
It's All Just A Little Bit Of History Remixing...

We imagine history into existence every day. Shaping the world around us as we go. And I remake histories with every piece. From a motley crew of tales tall and true. A melange of myths, signs and symbols. Every one ripe for my kitsch confections, which could all be legends one day...

Every piece I create is true. Sourced from truth and grounded by it. But never real. Reality's a fiction we're all subscribed to, which doesn't make it any less true. And that's the thing about the truth. Or the past. It moves in both directions. Myriad, in fact. Never sitting still or doing as it's told. Forever questioned, dissected, reframed and upended. Queered and inverted. Packaged and performed. Told, retold, adapted then sold. Evolving like everything else. Which is why I like to think my art exists outside of time. Reaching for infinity instead of reality. A kaleidoscope of mish-mashed truths that are only ever as surreal as we choose to make them...
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Toby Leon