Must See: Unwrapping the Layers of Julie Mehretu- Abstraction I

The technical, The spacial, The political

Realism

Precision

Void

Flocks of Fish, or Birds

System of creation, where Chaos is System, very systematized chaos

Layers and Layers of: Passion, Time, Humanity, Social and Cultural behavior, Governments

These Layers Unravels, Close and Far, Technical and Manual, Brushes and Rulers, Astonished and

Taking your time.

Her Artwork and thus herself, in my momental PoV, faces you with the Biggest fears of all:

The Illusion of Being in Control, when the fact is that you have to Let-go, and Give it a Time to Grow and Manifest itself into you. 

Links on Mehretu:

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Mehretu

Work (Mogamma): http://burnaway.org/julie-mehretu-contemporary-sublime/

Part of PBS Art21 Series (W/ Short Bio): http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/julie-mehretu/ 

Must C- Richard Mosse: Impossible Image

Film originally brought to you by Frieze Video

المجد للشهداء - جمعة رد الإعتبار - Martyrs of the Egyptian Revolution

"Thanks to Mosireen مصرين for the Documentary" Standing w/ such works makes me Speechless because of the Million words my brain say at the same moment, so, Thanks 

And, Before everything thanks to Allah, &to our Martyrs, my friend, my brother, my sister has gone for this land, You have been blessed to go to a better place w/ Saints. I hope to make it to your place one day.

NO Military Trials For Civilians- Must Share!

لا للمحاكمات العسكرية للمدنيينNo to military trials to civilians from Ramy Rizkallah on Vimeo.
لمعلومات اكثر و للاتصال
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Twitter: #Nomiltrials

"Shadi Ghadirian" Facebook Discussion

Just a few minutes ago, I saw the following fotos on my Facebook Feedback wall from a group called "Design-dautore.com...

 And I think You just had the same expression I had at first... WTF?!!:S

And, As I walked into the comments board I found the responds were as followed (Random Picking):

- "I would say....muslim would be pissed at these pictures. But what I can say? This is art. People would have different opinion on this kind of picture. I am muslim, but I will never say that this picture is about racist."

- "RACIST DESIGN SHAME ON THEM .."

I decided I want to know who did it, and Found a Short Bio on the Artist:

Photographer/ Shadi Ghadirian

Shadi Ghadirian was born in 1974 in Tehran, Iran. She is a photographer who continues to live and work in Iran. Ghadirian studied photography at Azad University (in Tehran). After finishing her B. A., Ghadirian began her professional career as a photographer. She says that "quite by accident", the subjects of her first two series were "women". -Wikipedia

After I read Everything now in short brief and remembering a similar discussion I had with a Dear friend and Fellow artist only Way more informed than me( Farida), That was my Comment:

"Well, At first when I saw it I thought, that's racist, It's just a a pissed off gal from wherever, either angry from her own culture, or offending another religion. But... After I read all the comments of the respectful fellows in here, I remembered a work by Sarah Maple called "Islam is the new black", and remembered how my friend took it as an offensive thing, And I thought it was Highly controversial, but it could mean the opposite" as in referring to Islamophobia as the new KKK like ideology or sth!"

So It is a good work, Highly controversial and Offensive, but I think she used what I learnt in the art world to be "The Shock Effect", Like the Damien Hirst works when they were first displayed! And works like that In my opinion are Judged... by the history of the Artist and their opinions in similar cases! But If I did just like I did in the Sarah Maple piece, and Assumed the better intention for the Artist, I'll think It's socio-cultural criticism, Just taken too 'In-your-face' style, Other thatn that, But, I know Islamic teachings and I know Muslim countries, and some people or even countries take the teachings sooo strictly, reaching the extreme side( which Is NOT what Islam is!), But She isn't Discussing Islam here, She's discussing the extreme deployment of Islam and Taking some of the teachings and leaving the others to restrict a certain Gender's rights, and THAT happens in Every Religion!!"


Now If you're intrigued and feeling curious to discover more of Ghadirian' works on Design-dautore
And may be tell me what did you think at first, and then! 


-Peace y'all

Must C- Gehard Demetz

Born in Italy in 1972, Gehard Demetz marble like wooden sculpture, and His extremely eloquent way of marking the impressions of sadness on his little kids sculptures, added to the little cubic holes in them, makes him definitely a One of a Kind Artist.
There isn't much known about him except for that he Works in the Mountains of Selva Gardena!
Here's some of his works:

Left: Glooysunday-2007, wood, Galleria Rubin, Milano  Right: Yoursweat is salty, 2005, wood, Galeria Rubin, Milano

I hear the spirit while I whisper- Wood- Galleria Rubin, Milano

His Website 
On Yatzer 

Young Muslims in the Modern world! -MUST C!

This Blog is one of those blogs I could call "Culturo-religious" Blogs, I think the best way to Describe it is how they describe themselves:

"This blog is the documentation of some thoughts and reflections of a small group of youth holding strong to their Muslim identities (including all Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, contemporary, traditional and all other facets of those identities). It is a chance to express thoughts, ask questions, search, and discuss."

It is NOT an Islamic teachings blog, but it Shows How those two Muslim Youth, see the modern culture and the Islamic teachings in the Modern world.
And let me say, I happened to have the Honor of knowing the Bloggers of that Blog, and every time I meet one of them I feel how much The blessings of Allah in Giving someone knowledge and adding it with Faith could be, Mashallah.

Image via Wikipedia

In a brief info F. & Dee as they usually sign in their posts:) are two Egyptian gals, who were raised on Islamic teachings, and Lived parts of their lives Abroad, making them more approachable of how the Muslims in General and Muslim Youth in Particular really Are in the western world.
They still travel alot, which is something- to tell you the truth guys- is just something I'd love to do as frequently as they do! and that Keeps them standing into A more GLOBAL Birds Eye view of the World:)
They've both got reading as a Hobby, and Reading in Contemporary Islam is something they usually do, which makes them a reference for me. And their reading also makes them Amazing writers especially Dee. (She should write a book someday!)

As forF. is an artist, a really good one for that matter, and her last Post was what made do that One! It Simply Discussed how some Muslim artists handle Muslim related issues in their art works, evidencing that debate with Two Artists, their artworks and what they said about their Philosophy, and how they believe Provocation could be a method in art!
I Definitely Advise you to see that Post: "We only have ourselves to blame"
And the BLOG.

From My site, beside my recommendation I can only pray to Allah, He saves and blesses those two girls and Increase their Knowledge, Humbleness, and Faith.

Climbing Highest Peak in Egypt!

It started like this... Last Monday my friends "Dee"& "Dev." invited me to a weekend "Trip" to Mount St.Katherine Sainai, Wanting to discover a new place in my country& seeing it a chance to unwind from stress, I instantly agreed, in an Hr. i had sent my friend my ID and the next day it was all set up!
I asked my work mate n friend for his Camping bag, since it's actually a "Hiking Trip" and I left on Thursday night frm Baron palace. Eshta?!
I had a nice 9hr. drive with 'Am ahmed( aka best long ways driver ever), along with Dee, Dev. and 3 other foreigners, in a small mini-van apart frm the rest of the guys in a BIG Bus- Why?- well, coz tourism police laws say that foreigners(especially American) should ride in a separate bus! but It was realllly Fun!
We arrived to the Base Camp @ 6:00 a.m. we quickly changed, prayed and put our Camp bags at the camp, while taking our Hiking Bags with us, i took 2 Small water bottles -I definitely under estimated what was coming next!!-
6:30 A.M we started hiking, walking and walking and walking we rested after 4.5 KM for a while and then we continued walking walking walking.....BORED YET!!! well only shortly after, we reached Summit... Yeah! you wish!!! Exactly 10hrs and 5min. Later, I reached the Highest Peak in Egypt!
I was so tired... Frustrated... Pain was nothing compared to what i felt! but on the other hand...I felt a huge...no MASSSIVE amount of Pride and Joy, and thirst!:D
We attended the Sunset at the summit, and the whole bunch of approx. 30 persons of us started it's way Down!.... This is When you should seriously Say you prayers, if i Had the chance to say the Whole QURAN, I could have... The road is Slippery, Rocky, Verry Narrow at some points, and you definitely don't want to look off the Edge!!
It quickly got dark and we opened our Flash lights, but Wait.... I don't have One!!:S
By that time i got to know one of the Foreigners that were with us Katerina Vladimirovna ( Kate), Frm Belarus... and Belive me I had to read her second name to know it, and i still can't get around her Final one!
and for the 4Hrs. Back she was my guide! Bless you "Kate":) while "Dee" was "Dev's" Guide!!
12:30 A.M we FINALLY reached Base camp back again...First thing, I went to the Loo, Yeah! I have to mention that coz frm 6:00 am the previous day till that moment I DIDN'T Use my simplest human right!!:S I Honestly didn't realize how much was that either, or how Long My Bladder could Hold?!... Well, moving on from the Nature call!, We all were sorted to our rooms...Not that we even Cared where we'll sleep...Dee, Dev., Kate and Me shared not only the room But the BED! and Yeah! it has to be in CAPITAL coz Last time i checked I didn't like sharing a bed with anyone! I was really that TIRED!! at 1:00 AM or sth i Had changed...no, Skinned Off my Dusty Hiking Clothes, Changed into P.J, Prayed, Had Dinner, Had a PANDOL, and HIT THE BLOODY SAC. Feeling as Happy and Exhausted as i Have never been before...
I HAVE JUST CLIMBED THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN EGYPT! WOOHOOO
 Follows are fotos taken by various ppl, coz My still camera was jammed so i only Video Taped (will upload it later isa with the Sketches!! ^-^)

Mousa- Our Guide... Turbo Guide infact (Kate's Cam)

Tarek, Yasser, Me- first stop...the mount is on the opposite side BTW!:P(Karim's Cam, i guess!)

Dee and Me having a Summit Snack- after i woke up frm a summit Nap!(Kate's Cam)

On the first stop on the way down- Dee n I Discussing Symbology bet. Devils horn and ILY!

Yeah! we ROCK the Rocks... Dev., Kate, and I.

Group Foto( Yehia's Cam)

@La Hacienda on the way back home, All One Piece elhamdulillah!(Kate's Cam)

 Many Thanks To:
-Yehia El Decken& Mohamed Atef @ Weekend Trips. I Can Never thank you guys enuf for such a gr8 Organization and Experience."U will owe me a Nutella next trip isa!:P:D)
-Yasser& Tarek For hookin' me up in Alex. best spots and the telling me about the Bestest Camping trips they've ever had with WETrips.
-Yehia Kandil for the amazing Fotography during the trip and enduring such Pain after an unfortunate event with his CAT Troopers.
- Every single person in the FALL ST. KATHERINE Hike... You Have been Such Super rockin' cooool Ppl I'm So Glad, I Ever met you!
- AND, Last but definitely before everything, DEE., DEV., KATE (For being such WOW Hiking Companions, I'm Super happy I Ever Met you Girls!) and Dee. and Dev. again, for Inviting me over, never could've known it without u gals!
                                                                             - wait for the Sketchies...SOoon!:D

Must C (Ramadan 2010 - The Big Picture)

Ramadan 2010 - The Big Picture - Boston.com

U Must C- Yuta Onoda

"Yuta Onoda, originally from Japan, has recently graduated from Bachelor of Applied

Arts Illustration at Sheridan College, Canada. He has been shaping his art aesthetic through

various forms of media, finding new avenues to express himself."- Yuta's Site

I bumped into his works while surfing at one of the art community sites... I really loved his works, they are, How could we say... Eloquent, and combines the magice of Delicacy and Strength at the same time! Vibrance of Colours and some sort of Intimacy.

Yuta... Way to go man! You ROCK!:)

This is who WE truely are!- A Must C of a new kind!

Ibn Sina(known in west as: Avicenna)- Muslim Scientist and Physician

   
From the Advantages and Disadvantages- at the same time- of Internet culture, is that it made religious and cultural information accessable for everyone, and indeed, with the presence of "Everyone" at easy access to write and publish any info about anything, You can never guarantee that that info is True, and one of the major reasons for Cultural and Religious conflicts is that anyone can post anything that's not true and say and convince a no. of people that they are absolutely true and a trustworthy reference, and allow me to say that Even if what they say can have a portion of truth, that doesn't mean they Entirely are, or that they are saying a certain info just for the reason of assessing the truth and nothing but the truth...

    I have always been interested in the Camparative Religious Studies, I totally Love reading about other religions and beliefs to help myself have a somehow clear concept of life and understanding how people from other religions and beliefs think, perhaps the reason was that my mother always use to tell me- as a young girl-about the Christianity from her upbringing in an orthodox christian school( the feasts, the rituals, the prayers, nearly everything i knew in a very young age), So, I used the internet sometimes to know about more in christianity, judaism, even Islam and other beliefs, But I have always known that not everything could be true, even in religions i don't follow, Simply because it's not rational that a religion in itself promotes for violence for example or injustice, right?!
And surely i have found untrue information through my surfings, but a trip back to the Basics, and Logic always lightened my way again. And my readings always enhanced my love( or u can say Adornment) and pride for my religion...Islam, a religion or u can say "civilization" that like everyother civilizations passed through their good times and right now, the not really pretty times, we have to face the intimidation of the response of others especially abroad- we might sometimes not say it, but we feel it- and that doesn't mean we- by anymean- doubt our religion( god forbid, Never!) but it's about the prevailence of certain ideologies of political favours...
    So, from the Good sources that i recently found that speaks about Islamic ( Sciences, Civilization, and Modern and Ancient History) is:

http://www.islamstory.com/

It has an English Section of course, and it contains Audio and Visual Lectures about- i think- everything about Islam, you can also ask anything you want to Dr. Ragheb Al-Sirgany who is one of the Scholars in the site and the Supervisor of the site.

Nicola Verlato-Must C!

Born in 1965 in Verona, Italia, Verlato Graduated from the Conservatorio (Conservatory) in 1984, then he joined the Institute of Architecture in Venezia and Graduated in 1890.

According to my own observation, In his works he highly focuses on Emotions, and Dramatic motions for the figures, which- added to the palette he uses- reminds me of both Mannerism and Surrealism, but he also gives it a twist of modernity.

He's an over-all artist, as I previously mentioned he's graduated from the conservatory- so the dude def. knows music!- He also Paints, Draws, Sculpts. BAM BAM BAM :)

To C More of this "Genio", Click Here

The Sartorialist! ok... WOW!

Him and His crew are definately one of the most amazing Street Fashion photographers I have ever Stumbled upon! Thanks for ma Bro. for that!:) YOU GOTTA CHECK HIM OUT!

Tipsy: Check the stuff by the Date!;)

U GOTTA WATCH DIS... U GOTTA LOVE DIS!

Iain MacArthur- A Must C!

For this dude, I really won't need to say a thang about him... His art made me speechless and i'm sure it did the same to ya...   GREAT AND WOW WORK MACARTHUR Ppl must be looking up for ya where u come from!! I am definately following his blog and so should you!

Must See JAW Cooper!

When you attempt to Visit her Blog or Site, Get ready to Dive Back Into the Naughty young childish version of you! She ( and Yes Cooper IS A GAL ppl!) Has that Childish Cheeky Comical face, that makes her as a gal looks really Kiddy and Cute in my POV! She's a California based Illustrator, Painter and Sculpturer! Multi Talented indeed!

Make Sure U stop by and See her works!

Must C... Robert Ferrell!

I just Bumped into Typography Served, A great site, for, well.. Typography, and then i saw this Dude.. Robert Ferrell... His works are just Amazing, you should go pay his Portfolio on Behance a Visit.

A Must c... COMBOOO!

Hey Guys... I stayed yesterday on the livingroom couch forever, and here are some ppl -Great Dudes Actually- that i just couldn't help myself making each one a folder wid his fotoz in 'em just to return back and Learn!! Here are their names and Links to their CRIBz!!

Costa Dvorezky
Kenichi Hoshine

Christian Ward

I think the Images say how good these dudes are, right?!;)

Get Updated on Artists ToolKit!!

I just bumped into this really cute site accidentally... The Artist's ToolKit teaches everyone the Basic Artistic Principles, ANIMATED!! C, How cool is that, huh?!;) I mean I hate reading about the perspective n everthing, i prefer seeing this LIVE, and here i found what i want!

So.. tell you little Bros, Sises, nieces, nephews about it, i'm sure they'll love it, and gain loads of INFO!

Rania Fouad! My Sensei and Another one ur MUST C List!

painting Youyou, originally uploaded by rania fouad.

Still on everytime I Hold a Soft Pastel and Start to Draw, I remember her sitting with us, back 5 ys ago and Drawing with us, to demonstrate how and when and what and why should you use that colour Right her right now!
Now 5 ys later, thanks to her, I'm finishing my Graduation Project, Thanks to her, I'm known among my class for my Palette, and thanks to her for her paintings are such an inspiration!
Domo Arigato SenSei!:) She's Studying Now in Japan! n God i wish i knew her more through the past yrs. as much as my pals Farida, Sara, n Momo did!