Ali Omar Ermes - Art & Ideas - علي عمر الرميص

In this episode, I present an artwork piece produced in 2003 named "Ramyaton Khatifah" meaning a very quick splash with the fast movement of the brush.
This piece has been exhibited in a number of exhibitions including London and Dubai.
It also contains some beautiful poetry discussing important issues including the psychological impact words can have on people with a great example of how a simple word can make us react very badly or the opposite.
... Also featuring several beautiful wise sayings and expressions!
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"They are a commentary, says Ermes, on the double talk and chicanery that dominate world politics."
In this episode, I present three artwork pieces: Laa (No), Naam (Yes) and Lakin (But..). This series of three paintings highlights the inability of decision-makers, whether they are presidents, prime ministers or other positions of power, to make the right decisions in favour of their people.
They all contain beautiful poetry and wise sayings. The three paintings, executed in ...1993, can also be used as a triptych.
Also featuring several beautiful wise sayings and expressions!
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اللغة في الفن وأعمال علي عمر ارميص Language in Art and the Work of Ali Omar Ermes

In this episode, I present 2 artwork pieces including "The Fourth Ode" and "The Sixth Ode". Both are from 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 P...rize Poems which were thus hung at the Kaaba assumed a universal context and appeal.
With the full 85 (bayt) poetry lines by the pre-Islamic warrior poet Anter Ibn Shaddad, who was famous for both his romantic story with Ablah and his fairness and strict war ethics. Such as not to start aggression neither to fight who is less capable neither go for he who is already down or loot him after his death.
Also featuring several beautiful wise sayings and expressions!
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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 on 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 of 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 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 featuring several beautiful wise sayings and expressions!
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In this episode I present a couple of artworks including "Aakhin Aakh", a piece produced in 1993 that was dedicated to the United Nations in the context of the Bosnia tragedy, containing poems by myself.
Also featuring several beautiful wise sayings and expressions as well as an artwork that has been in the collection of The British Museum since 1986.

In this episode, I reveal a flag of peace that I've worked on for several months, representing my home country of Libya, that was designed for an initiative showcasing over 100 flags of peace from around the world, promoting peace and unity throughout different nations.
Also featuring in this episode is a story of great wisdom about a man who was famous for being a compulsive liar and the foolish circumstances he landed himself in because of his endless fibs!

In this episode, I speak about the project of The Language in Art and the Work of Ali Omar Ermes which has been produced by Goldsmiths University Museum in cooperation with The British Museum, Qatar Foundation International, London Museum and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. From this, a book and a programme was produced to help students benefit from learning language through art using the work of Ali Omar Ermes.
Also featuring a story of Juha, one of his many tales about himself and his neighbour. Juha is a historical character who breaks down complex situations with simple but creative solutions and presents them in a clever and joyful way to make sure you watch until the end!

In this episode, I share my experience with some of my art exhibitions that have taken place over the years and the posters, brochures, and publications that have materialised from these events. Some beautiful short stories and also a wise saying later on in the video so make sure you watch until the end!

In this episode I share my experience with art spanning 5 decades starting from my first international solo exhibition in the Plymouth Art Museum in 1969 although my first exhibition was in my home country Libya at the Tripoli International Fair in 1965. I took part in over 70 solo and group exhibitions around the world in countries including USA, Russia, South Korea, Australia and the Middle East. You will also see examples of artwork, posters and material produced for some ...of my exhibitions.
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The Artist:
Ali Omar Ermes is an international artist whose artwork is principally based on the Arabic letter form. He paints on various sizes and some very large canvases (up to 5 metres long), in single or multiple colours applied with large brushes mainly on specially hand-made paper.
His style is unique. He combines in his paintings excerpts from world literature, mainly Arabic/Islamic poetry and prose and uses them as comments on human values such as justice, peace, human rights, protection of the environment and moral and social responsibilities. The combination of the text, the colours, the forms, the sense of space and rhythm create powerful visual and musical compositions.
Ali Omar‘s paintings produce a strong visual language, which speaks eloquently to people who can read the Arabic script and those who cannot. On multiple levels his work has brought a new dynamism and vitality to the world of Islamic Art and has been described as “a Bridge between the divide of cultures and languages”.
Ali Omar Ermes is considered by many curators and art experts around the world as a unique international artist. He is widely exhibited and probably the number one collected contemporary Muslim artist in the world.
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In this episode, I speak about a few points starting with a lot of memories depicted from some of my early diaries throughout the years. When asked for a description of how I describe my work, it is a combination of fine art practice with literature where the production of those 2 elements bring about art that reads like a book and views like a painting.
I also touch upon just how important the role of coffee is in our daily lives and how it brings people from all walks of life together. Also featuring some beautiful wise sayings later on in the video so make sure you watch until the end!
If you enjoyed this episode, please don't forget to like and subscribe for more videos!

Qaf, "Al Alsmaie Tales” (1983). Acrylic and ink on paper. Smithsonian
For more information please visit: www.aliomarermes.co.uk

Al Haa ‘Informal Debate’ (1997). Acrylics on paper, mounted on canvas. 113 cm x 104 cm. Private Collector.
... The artwork features one line of poetry by the eminent poet Abu Al Tayyib Al Mutanabbi, the meaning of which in general says:
“Great souls carry enormously ambitious dreams but all that for the misfortune of their earthly bodies”.
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