Iqraa – Read!
The inscription from a poem by the eminent pre-Islamic nobleman and intellectual, Sala’a ibn Amr, comments on the essential requirements for building a sound society.
He likens the building of an equitable order to the building of a house – neither can succeed without foundations or the right materials.
He lays emphasis on the need for consultation and dialogue in a society without which, he warns, evil forces become predominant (from Al’ Aqd al Farid).
The artist in a supplementary inscription offers the view that his art can be seen in four contexts – those of its immediate impact on the viewer; its aesthetic beauty, its arrangement of image and colour; and its historical content both in universal and Islamic terms.
The poetry and other inscriptions on the painting serve to complement not only its literary element but also its visual beauty, creating a cumulative impression of movement and music and underlining the need for the contemporary Islamic artist to lead and be a part of the international artistic current in today’s civilisation.
The original artwork size is approx. 153 x 123 cm, in acrylic and inks on paper. It was produced in 1991.
