Yemeni artist Hani Al-AkbariBuilding on the past [Archives:2004/787/Culture]
Irena Knehtl
[email protected]
For the Yemen Times
The Yemeni House of Culture in Sana'a has the exhibition of Yemeni artist Hani Ali Mohammed Al-Akbari. His exhibition, his second in Yemen, within the framework of Sanaa – the Arab Culture Capital festivities, was opened by His Excellency Mr. Khaled Rowaishan, the Yemeni Minister for Culture, and received high marks both from Yemeni and foreign visitors.
Born on 1961, Hani graduated from the Fine Arts Academy in Firence, in Italy (1987). He is member of Yemeni artist organization, held posts at Ministry of Culture, and a teacher of free art at Faculty of Engineering at Science and Technology University in Sanaa. He participated in a number of local and foreign exhibitions. Independently in Firence in Italy (1987) and in Yemen (1989).
Unlike Yemen's contemporary art, the art of Yemeni artist Hani Ali Mohammed Al-Akbari, is as rich as it should be. It partakes of past splendor, dazzling formats, delicate threads, and messages abound. The Yemeni theme in his works is the influence of traditional forms, substance, balance and design.
Hani is eager to draw upon the land, the Yemeni land, and the Yemeni experience as his format. It is the land itself, the timeless Yemeni land, that insistently demands recording. Perhaps because one knows that tomorrow, it will not look exactly the same – yet will always be there. Certainly the land, and the dramatic way the sun plays with the land, are always inspiring. There is a search to continuity from yesterday to today that too takes many forms.
The format of color and basic geometric design, is developed into the shapes and simple combinations. Then there is grace, an all-powerful force. Grace by itself is form without content. Grace is moonlight on the water, not the sunlight at noon. Yet grace in Hanis artwork brings artistic expression into the world. It is the grace that enhances the quality of our lives.
Here it seems as if grace arises out of adherence to form and the artist is becoming one with brush and canvas. In human affairs, grace is aligned with form, with mastery of aesthetic and cultural forms honored by time and honored by traditions. Through appreciation of graceful forms in human culture, we apprehend the pure beauty of the ideal of life raised above the mere struggle for survival.
Care and lending the grace to dignity of small matters, while giving the weight of deep and careful consideration to matters of greater consequence. The artwork of Yemeni artist Hani Ali Mohammed Al-Akbari is a testimony to the vitality of Yemeni contemporary art today.
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