Mental Proliferation, Hakims Ninth Exhibition [Archives:2002/32/Culture]
BY SAAD TAHER
FOR YEMEN TIMES
At the gate of the house of culture in the end of Republican Palace street in Sanaa a banner referring to the plastic arts exhibition of Hakim AL-Akil dew my attention, recalling his third exhibition in 1995 which was held at Al-Afif cultural establishment in Sanaa. As I entered the gallery, I saw many young men standing in separate groups by 23 different -sized posters whispering and pointing to them. A butterfly was flying in the gallery. Ah I shouted voicelessly with wide-open mouth. It is Hakim Al-Akil, the innovator artist whom I admired much. The smart gentle artist was stopped from time to time by some audience to sign his autograph on their little copybooks.
A young man seeing my card hanging on my shirts pocket and sheets with camera hurried to me smilingly Yemen Times, welcome to the exhibition and handed me a catalogue, which I spent my time going through until the artist would be free. The title of the exhibition was Mental splits and it lasted for twenty days (20th April -10th May). A poem was presented by Mr. Khalid Al-Rowaishan entitled A blue cloud and a lonely bird praising Hakim and describing him as laughing dream bird followed. The critical essay by Hatem Al-Saker expressed Mental Splits in a vivid style. Next, a short biography of the artist, his qualifications and experiences was given. Twelve photos of the posters concluded the catalogue. Hakim sat down, I hunted the chance to interview him. With his lovely penetrating smile he welcomes YT.
Q: This is the ninth personal exhibition, when and where was the first one?
A: It was at central house, Moscow in 1992.
Q: What about the other ones?
A: The second was in state of Musm in Republic of Admortia in 1993, the third was at Afif cultural Est. in Sanaa in 1995, the fourth was in Sanaa in 1996, the fifth was at ACE in Sanaa in 1997, the sixth was at Expo in Sanaa in 1998 and the eighth was in Sharjah in 2001.
Q: What s the total number of your exhibitions?
A: More than forty one in Yemen and abroad.
Q: Where could your works be seen?
A: Many are in Moscow, Italy, Beirut, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, England, Morocco, Egypt, France, U.S.A., the National Museum in Taiz, Yemeni Bank for Construction and Development, Immigration Office, ACE, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and many other personal possessions.
Q: What are the main themes you adopt?
A: Through these plastic art posters I expressed different ideas such as Mental Proliferation, Everyday Night, Causing Place to Come, By the Window, Mental Splits, Nights Tales, Renovated Dream, No, Merging and Creatures Changing.
Q: What about your upcoming projects?
A: I am doing my best to come back with new ideas in the next exhibition.
After having tea together, I repeated my congratulatory messages on this event and shook hands with him. Say my greetings to lovely YT he said.
After exchanging smiles and a Thank you message I concluded the meeting, took my equipment and left.
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