Ali Omar Ermes: History of the Artwork featuring 2 Pieces



In this episode, I talk about the history of some of the artwork spanning 50 years and present 2 artwork pieces including "Possession" and "Multiple Forms" - both of which have been exhibited a number of times around the world including The State Hermitage Museum.

Steeped in faith and the concepts of Islam, this work (Multiple Forms) is a homage to the life of the Prophet Mohammad through the Qasidat al-Burda (The Poem of the Cloak) by al-Busairi. The poem was compiled under great duress by the sufi master al-Busairi (A.D. 1212-1296). Having suffered a major stroke and paralysis in the left side of his body, the sheikh composed and recited his poem as a mantra during his illness. In its repetition, he found great solace.

The poem is full of love for the Prophet who is said to have come to al-Busairi in a dream, cast his cloak over his sleeping form and cured him from his paralysis. The love expressed for Mohammad in Islamic culture is the pure emotion of a believer for his Prophet. It is an abstract thing that can be all consuming, transcending the love of man for his fellows. It is a pure and unadulterated devotion often articulated in devout poetry by pious men.

Possession contains the letters seen, sheen, Ssadd and dhad in a form where the structure of the artwork is held tightly by the composition structures.

The poetry is by Al Motannabbi who says:
“Before a merit can be given to physical courage, there is the first and foremost which is the courage of opinion. Therefore, if these two elements are present in a person you probably have a perfect human being. Nevertheless, we have to know what the difference is between the thoughtless beast and the considerate human. It is the intellect; it is the logic as without that, the least of beasts can uproot the human race altogether if not for their reasons.”

Also in VIDEO CHANNEL

Qaffon Aasif: Ali Omar Ermes Artwork about the Libyan Hero Omar Al Mukhtar

This artwork shows an unfamiliar way of executing the letter Qaff, which in some ways resembles the old Kufic script. Unusually in the work of Ali Omar Ermes, it has stormy golden strokes around its sides. A comparable painting, similar in style, can be found at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.

The texts are poems by Ahmed Shawqi about the very well known resistance Libyan leader Omar Al-Mukhtar who died in 1932. Omar Mukhtar is an Arab Muslim rebel who fought against the Italian conquest of Libya, just prior to World War II.

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