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.
This work includes the full one-hundred-and-three (bayt) line poem by Amr Ibnu Kalthoum, who is noted for his eloquent verses and his expressions of contempt for tyrants.
Original name (Arabic): المعلقة السابعة
Original production date: 1993
Artwork Size: 250cm x 225cm
Materials: Acrylic on paper, mounted on canvas
Location of Original: Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE