Hashem Ali: Great Yemeni Talent of World Reputation [Archives:2000/34/Last Page]
Yemen Times
Staff, Taiz
Hashem Ali a pioneering Yemeni plastic artist was born in Hadhramout in 1945. He then moved to Taiz where he was brought up and established an apparent interrelationship with it. His connection with the city is so strong and clearly depicted in his paintings which bear testimony to this. Since his early childhood, he has been fond of practicing art as a branch of self-learning through perseverant research and study. He is categorized as one of plastic art founders in Yemen. That is, he is the pioneer in establishing plastic art in Yemen. His first exhibition was held in Taiz in 1967. He organized many other exhibitions in the Middle East, Europe and USA. His paintings were highly appreciated and obtained in many national and foreign museums.
He won many medals and certificates of merits. He was granted the Literature and Arts Medal of the first degree in 1989. He was held as the godfather for most artists who highly appreciate and hold him high.
Dr. Jack Fairman said Yemen has a culture rich with poetry, music, architecture, philosophy and history. Hashem Ali is the first Yemeni artist in this field. He is a great Yemeni international talent.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Makaleh said If the Arab nation seeks to enumerate her talented pioneers, it is certain that master Hashem Ali will be among the top of these pioneers who seek to create something new and add beauty and amazing touches to this world that is becoming narrower and is about to collapse.
Yemen Times met with Mr. Hashem and filed the following interview:
Q: Who were you influenced by and did you follow any artistic school?
A: I have been influenced by the natural, historic, and humane Yemeni environment. I have been also influenced by the Yemeni architecture and by the archeological objects that are found in mosques. I have been influenced by Taiz city, Saber mountain and the plain girl of Saber with her traditional costume. All these are some factors that I was influenced by.
As for the school I might have followed, there are a triple of schools for plastic arts, influencing the Arab art in particular and the international art in general. These schools are the Babylonian, the Pharaoh Egyptian school and the Southern Arab peninsula school, i.e., the Yemeni school. The Yemeni school is a very ancient artistic school that has clear impact on modern schools. The European schools had been deeply influenced by these schools.
Q: Why, how and to who do you paint?
A: I paint because I love to paint. It is almost everything in life for me. I cant stand the idea of being away from my painting brush and canvas and boards. My attachment to painting is just like the attachment of fish to water. As to how I paint, a quiet place is essential so as to ponder over what I am doing. Sometimes it takes me almost one year to finish only one painting. Some other times I fail to paint what is burning within me so I become very much upset and I stop eating and talking until I find my way to what I want to paint. And as to who I paint, I paint for the man.
Q: What are the issues that are depicted in your paintings?
A: The main thrust is that of aesthetics which are fundamental for man. Literature and arts have a strong impact to form the essence of man, as different to other sciences such as political, economic and engineering sciences. Plastic art is an independent science called the aesthetic science.
Q: How do you assess plastic art in Yemen? and How do you view new artists in this field?
A: Probably there is not any real and quick response to this literary form in comparison with other forms of art such as poetry and short story. However, many people have started to apparently understand the nature of plastic art which is a good omen of a better understanding of this art in times to come.
The problem lies in the authority that until recently used to consider arts as banned and prohibited. The Ministry of Culture works to create hurdles and obstacles for artists rather than helping them. It provides these arts and artists with nothing to be appreciated or mentioned.
New artists are showing profound interest in plastic art. They are promising of better times to come. Now we witness more exhibitions organized in schools, universities and cultural centers. There is a criticism movement in newspapers, magazines, writings and TVs, etc. All these factors together help improve the understanding of people to plastic art.
I advise new artists to go on painting and there will be one day when people would understand the meaning of plastic art and how important it is for the society.
Q: What about the role of Plastic Art Syndicate?
A: The syndicate is part and parcel of plastic art movement to create an understanding among the people to this art. We do not rely neither on the government nor on the syndicate. We should depend on the movement itself and every one should shoulder responsibility to improve this art.
Q: There was some news about collecting all your paintings in a special museum. What is new about it so far?
A: So far nothing has happened. It was an idea adopted by some official, popular, and literary sources. I assert that the existence of this museum is pending on the authority understanding of the importance of plastic art.
This has also a tourist appeal for such museums will attract more tourists to the country, consequently boosting the tourist drive in the country.
I hope the authority will be aware of this, despite the fact that officials at the Ministry of Culture are always turning a deaf ear.
Q: Do you think that architecture is part of plastic art?
A: It is, of course. After all it creates some kind of beauty. Architecture is not a mere structure of buildings for making constructions and designs is an art which also affects man from inside.
Q: What are your future ambitions?
A: My ambition is to be an artist for up till now I do not feel satisfied with what I have produced. Real artist is the one who feels that he can never quench his desire and suffers more whenever he achieves something.
Q: What about your new experience of murals you have begun recently?
A: Murals are another form of this art. Its more spread in parks and public places. I have made some murals in Al-Wahdah Park in Taiz and on walls of some buildings. I will continue this for I feel that painting and murals are the same, despite that the tools are different.
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