When The Moon is Full

When the Moon is Full (2021) by Saudi artist Zaman Jassim is a contemplative installation that merges sound, light, text, and performance to evoke a moment suspended between memory and farewell. Inspired by the phases of the moon, the work serves as a poetic meditation on the passage of time, the fragility of life, and the beauty of fleeting moments.

The piece unfolds across two symbolic scenes that reflect the inevitability of departure—of the moon after it reaches fullness, and of human life nearing its end. Drawing a parallel between celestial rhythms and emotional experience, Jassim likens the moon’s glow, dependent on the sun, to the illumination of a person’s life by the presence of a loved one. The viewer is invited to reflect on this metaphorical connection between cosmic forces and human relationships, discovering a shared vulnerability and quiet grandeur in both.

The installation incorporates poetry by Yusef Al-Breih, calligraphy by Hassan Radwan, and performance by Muhammad Talaqif and Rabab Al Ismail, creating a layered sensory experience that transcends language and form. Luminous holographic projections emit shifting light, representing the impact of human presence on the universe and calling on the viewer to act with compassion, awareness, and grace.

As part of Riyadh Art’s Permanent Collection, When the Moon is Full anchors Jassim’s ongoing artistic journey, following earlier works such as Birth and The Scent of My Loved Ones. It continues his exploration of nostalgia, absence, and the metaphysical bond between human beings and the natural world.

The work invites its audience into a dreamlike space—one that exists outside of linear time—where departure is not an end, but a moment of reflection and renewal.