ALI OMAR ERMES’ ART

"Wa Lan" is part of a powerful trio of artworks “La, Kalla, Wa Lan” that tackles some of the most pressing issues of our time. Through the use of poetry, these pieces speak out against domination by big powers, terrorism, corruption, and environmental and cultural abuse. They remind us that we are all in this together and that if we want to achieve peace and harmony, we must be honest and reject hypocrisy and double standards. By calling for justice and an end to injustice, "Wa Lan" offers a hopeful vision for a better future.

Dubai: At first glance, Ali Omar Ermes doesn’t evoke a sense of rebellion or mutiny. His stout build and warm smile instill in you a feeling of security, a compassionate fatherly-figure who wishes to take you by the hand and reveal to you the simple wonders of his art and message.

Yet Ermes was one of the first artists to introduce Arabic lettering, language, and etymology into art pieces. When Middle Eastern artists were running after Western ideals to either emulate great western artists of the time or to appeal to the western art scene, Ermes stood strongly against such acts.

The work he displayed in his gallery today is greatly similar to his earlier work which he displayed in 1969 in Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery in the UK, which at the time was the first if it's kind.

When I listened to the recent lecture by Neil MacGregor, Director, British Museum on the 250th anniversary of the museum, I was, at least at the beginning, very relieved. (1) I thought, finally we have the director of the museum, an avid apostle of the “universal museum”, who was recently made a saint by the British press (2), admitting openly in the museum, (or is it now a temple?) that his institution is British and actually the first important institution to have in its title, the word “British”. This came in a time British workers were also asserting their nationalism. The history of the British Museum as traced by the director clearly indicated that the museum was established by a British Parliamentary Act for the British people. I heard in the lecture phrases such as “centrally and quintessentially British”, “first public institution to be called British”, “oldest British organization” and all this was said to be “true today”.

There is nothing wrong with all this. We have at present many institutions in the world specifically designated as “national.”

Ali Omar Ermes (Arabic:علي عمر الرميص) is an internationally renowned artist, writer, and speaker as well as a community activist; but above all, he is a thinker who never restricts his objective to one precinct [Mary Richardson, ‘The alphabet of Ali Omar Ermes’, Arts & The Islamic World, 1988] [ [http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20031029050241 "Ali Omar Ermes In Context"] , "Zawya"] [Fuad Nahdi, 'Conversation with Ali Omar Ermes’, Q News, No. 302 & 303, 13 March 1999] Having spent a period in Libya during which he wrote constantly and published in Arabic, he continues to write on various issues in both Arabic and English, but today his primary focus is on conference papers. Ermes delivers speeches at national and international conferences, in locations ranging from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, as well as at the VIII Conference ‘European Culture’ in Pamplona, Spain. In his art, articles, ideas and speeches, he addresses a variety of social and cultural issues, including identity, language, education, art, media and community. In addition, he serves as chair of the [http://www.almanaar.org.uk Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre] in Kensington, London, inaugurated by HRH the Prince of Wales in May 2001

By Salma Awwad

To celebrate Dubai’s winning bid to host the World Expo 2020, Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre commissioned Ali Omar Ermes to create ‘The Expo painting’ named Tawasul Al-Himam – ‘The Continuum of Resolve’.

Libyan artist Ali Omar Ermes is internationally renowned for his paintings based on Arabic literature and letter forms.

Experience the beauty and power of art and poetry as they intersect in this breathtaking work. The piece, titled "BP" explores the vital role humans play in preserving the earth and its gifts, all bestowed upon us by God.

The romantic and evocative artwork, Al Haa 'Informal Debate,' delves into the intersection of ambition and mortality. Featuring a poignant line of poetry from the esteemed poet Abu Al Tayyib Al Mutanabbi, the piece explores the idea that even those with grand aspirations may be hindered by their physical selves.