Konya is a visual interpretation of the profound spiritual bond between Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, as portrayed in The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak. The book explains how Shams transformed a scholar into a Sufi (mystic) through love, in Konya.
Through this series, I explore themes of love, transformation, ego, and surrender—core elements of their legendary connection.
Using two models, Duke and Hillary, each embodying one of the characters, I created a visual dialogue that reflects the evolving dynamics between master and seeker, shadow and light, self and mirror. Shot with a minimalist yet symbolic approach, the project embraces stillness, movement, and tension as metaphors for inner awakening.
What makes Konya even more personal is that the styling was developed collaboratively by the two talents themselves, infusing each frame with their own interpretations of the characters they portray. This co-creation gave the series its raw intimacy and authenticity.
Konya is not just about who Rumi and Shams were—it's about what they represent: the possibility of transformation through love, reflection, and surrender.
Konya is not just about who Rumi and Shams were—it's about what they represent: the possibility of transformation through love, reflection, and surrender.
— Khaled Fhemy Mamah
