The Seventh Ode is one of a group of seven paintings that celebrate the Seven Odes of Arabic poetry, Al Muallaqat As Sabaa or Prize Poems, which enjoy a special place in Arabic literature due to their power of eloquence and historic relevance.
When a poem was judged to be exceptional, it was embroidered in gold on silk cloth and hung on the Kaaba as a sign of general acclaim. Over the years, the Prize Poems which were thus hung at the Kaaba assumed a universal context and appeal.
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The work of the Libyan artist, Ali Omar Ermes, Letter Kaf: The Power of Expression, represents a dramatic departure in its scale, treatment, and intent. Measuring 130 cm x 95 cm, the painting is dominated by the form of a single letter of the Arabic alphabet, the letter ‘kaf’ or ‘k’, created with one continuous brush stroke.
The composition, which reads more as an undulating abstraction than an actual letter, is notable for its boldness and spontaneity.
While evoking the fluidity of Chinese and Japanese calligraphy, the single letter, monumentalised and stripped to its most essential form, also echoes the expressiveness of the ‘New Style’ script discussed earlier.
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This painting comprises of visible brush strokes in prominent yellows, greens, and blues.
Poems by the poet Kaab Ebni Zuhair. The poems can be interpreted as follows:
“Ask protection from God not to suffer hardship or to do what is wrong or shameful, otherwise, you are a loser who is either a criminal or a victim of crime.”
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