THE ULTIMATE JOURNEY_ENGLISH

Abdul lah Al -Shel t i - Saudi Arabia

Nationality

: Saudi.

Date of Birth

: 1952, Abha.

Education

: Diploma in Arts, 1973 Riyadh.

Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) says: “Journeys will not be made except to three mosques: the Haram Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque and Al-Aqsa Mosque.” What a great saying! And how beautiful is its meaning! What a wonderful concept! It was the source of the idea for making three distinguished and expressive paintings of these holy places, which are loved by Muslims all over the world. I have made a lot of efforts to conceive the idea and executing it on the canvas. For me these paintings are like the soul of body and I have done the work in the following manner: I. The HaramMosque and the Holy Kaaba: I stood looking from the above, from the front and from all sides. I also looked from the roof of the Haram, from its floors and its courtyard situated in the middle the mosque and found that it would be a unique painting. I started saying Bismillah “In the Name of God, Most Gracious and Most Merciful” and then began to put the main lines and left enough space for the Kaaba on the canvas and specified its size, then I look at it from a distance to see how its background would be. I then started putting suitable moving colors, projecting the spirituality and sacredness of the place. A viewer will not understand this painting from the first sight. He needs to meditate and look at it from a distance and that is my aim. I want the painting to remain in everybody’s memory. I feel that I have succeeded in carrying out this work, which is most liked by me and all Muslims. II. The Prophet’s Mosque: I thought about making this painting because it is the most beloved place for me after the Haram Mosque and the Holy Kaaba. I believed that this painting should have an excellent color application showing movement and that should be done in an untraditional style. I used the appropriate colors: blue, grey and white in order to highlight the holiness of the place as well as the minarets from which the voice of truth comes out. In an eloquent fashion the sky has been connected with earth in order to have a coherence between the two paintings (The Haram Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque). This painting also needs meditation and understanding of the content. I believe that I have accomplished that too by the grace of God. III. Al-Aqsa Mosque: I have not seen the Al-Aqsa Mosque closely in order to understand what it contains and how its surroundings look. I thought that what is important is to make an excellent presentation of my feelings about the mosque. I used the same colors: blue, grey and white for this painting also. With quick touches I tried to connect the sky with earth. I used a different color at the entrance of the mosque to denote the recapture of Al-Aqsa Mosque. I thank God for providing me the ability and support to make these paintings as an honest expression of my feelings toward the three holiest places of Muslims.

: • Participated in the exhibitions of the Youth Welfare Presidency and the Culture and Arts Society, and the Saudi Center in Jeddah, Warshan Gallery and the Saudi Arts House. • Energy Exhibition, USA. • Vancouver Exhibition, Canada.

Exhibitions

• Cairo International Benali. • Sharjah International Benali. • Saudi Arabian Airlines contest.

: • 1st Prize, Samarec Contest, Jeddah at the Saudi Center. • 1st Prize, Al-Moukhmal contest at the Saudi Center, Jeddah. • 1st Prize of Abha Cultural contest. • 2nd Prize in drawing, General Exhibition for the Kingdom`s Regions. • 2nd Prize in Photography, the General Exhibition for Collections, Riyadh. • Best design for Coca Cola logo at Janadriya contest. • Many other encouraging prizes.

Prizes

Works Displayed at : • Royal Court.

• Ministry of Interior. • King Khaled Airport. • King Fahd Airport. • Presidency of Youth Welfare. • SABIC. • Abha Palace Hotel.

38

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online