Visual Dhikr™
returning to remembrance

The Mediterranien Visual Arts Club(MVAC) was invited to organise the calligraffiti workshop to educate audience of the origin of the malay Jawi script and the art of the traditional Arab Calligraphy fusing with the modern street art,Graffiti.

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ICNA sponsored a mural with wordclass artist Mohammed Ali aka aerosolarabic who wrote ‘peace’ in both arabic and english. Everything was … all » going wonderful as many people in the community were showing up and supporting us until alderman Bernie Stone busted in and told us to stop at the prompting of the Fire Dept. They told his very rude chauffeur that “those guys (CFD) are pissed, they say that after all the people that got killed in New York and we have to look at that everyday (the mural).” My man Jorge caught it all on video.

The actual video: click here

Ali's statement

I wanted to go through some of the artwork I did for Outlandish, maybe not all, but some - as it was a pleasure working on the album cover and artwork.


Based on the song, Sakeena, the sensual red evokes warmth, passion and love yet the darkened red gives a feeling of privacy or secrecy. The two arabic words are based on the lyrics, ’love and life’ (hub wa hayat) – I've tried to intertwine them, or base them on the ’two matching calligraphy lines’ (as mentioned in the song) concept.

Process:

Textures on paper using rollers and brush. Calligraphy written on paper using pen. Both scanned for composition digitaly and typography added for emphasis of the lyrics.

Cutting edge cultural dialogue - Acclaimed British Muslim artist teams up with Arts Council England in groundbreaking US "Arts and Islam" tour.

In addition to the seminars, Mohammed Ali will be producing a series of commissioned spiritual murals, including a special mural in New York City commemorating the tragic death of 9 Bronx children who died in a blaze at the very location of their funeral. Working with young people from all faith backgrounds, Mohammed will create wall murals reflecting the universal themes of spirituality and unity that connect people of all backgrounds and cultures.


Arts and Islam site

Ali's at it again.

Just half an hour's drive from where I live, on the Island of Anglesey, there exists an example of tolerance and civilised behaviour of the highest order. It is on display in a beautiful church known as Llanbadrig (in Welsh Llanbadrig means "Church of Saint Patrick". Llanbadrig was founded in 440 AD and traces its links to the earliest appearance of of Christianity in the British Isles in the 5th Century. It has been repaired several times and was restored as it is today during 1840 to 1884 by the 3rd. Lord Stanley of Alderley. Now Lord Stanley converted to Islam. He was the first Muslim member of the House of Lords. The remarkable thing is that though a devout Muslim himself, he nevertheless provided all the funds to pay for extensive restoration of a church. I feel that this an excellent example of a man who placed his humanity above his tribal allegiance and deserves to be brought to the attention of the Islamic World.

Full article

Photographic essay on real Cairo, by Chris Smith