In pictures: Mattar Bin Lahej’s steel sculpture at Dubai Mall

Mattar Bin Lahej’s most recent work, Encyclopedia, is set up in the Waterfall Atrium at The Dubai Mall. Antonie Robertson / The National

Made up of a series of circular pieces joined by deep curves, it is engraved with arabesque patterns and excerpts from the Quran or from works that explicate the verses. Courtesy Mattar Bin Lahej

The sculpture is 15 metres long and almost three metres at its highest point, the sheer size and scale of it is awe-inspiring and the level of detail, once you look closely, is flawless. Antonie Robertson / The National

Made from top-grade stainless steel, the piece of art shines and reflects everything around it. But stand next to it long enough and you feel you are looking at a universe full of orbiting planets and stars, characterised by constant movement. Courtesy Mattar Bin Lahej

The idea for this complex piece of art came when Bin Lahej read the book titled Quran Encyclopedia last year. Antonie Robertson / The National

Although the ideas came quickly, it still took about six months for Bin Lahej to map out the intricacies of the complex sculpture before any physical construction began. Courtesy Mattar Bin Lahej

In what was formerly a place for marine boat building, Bin Lahej’s artwork took shape. It was sculpted using water jets, cut with lasers and engraved in a process using special chemicals. Every detail was supervised by Bin Lahej’s expert eye and, after only 45 days, the final piece, which weighs four-and-a-half tonnes, was ready. Courtesy Mattar Bin Lahej

The art piece was installed at the beginning of July and, by the end of the month, approximately 500,000 people will have seen the piece at the Dubai Mall. Antonie Robertson / The National

Although the sculpture carries the name of God and the word of the Quran, Bin Lahej says it is not just for Muslims. “The Quran is a big message and one of the verses of it says that if you are going to invite people to read that message, don’t invite them with a sword or a knife, invite them with beauty. We are all human, we all respond to beauty so this piece is not for Muslims only. Muslims know the beauty of the Quran. This is for non-Muslims, too, to invite them to ask questions,” says Mattar Bin Lahej. Courtesy Mattar Bin Lahej

Artist Mattar Bin Lahej's most recent piece, Encyclopedia, will be on display in The Dubai Mall's Waterfall Atrium untilJuly 31.