Poet expresses Islamic views in painting expo<\/p>\n
By Yogita Tahil Ramani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In one section of a hall, frames of 99
\npainstakingly inscripted Islamic definitions of the Almighty
\nstare out, seemingly woven into colors on paper.<\/p>\n
The Arabic, etched with gold and silver marker, is pronounced
\nand unmarred on dried, mud-brown cigarette ash.<\/p>\n
In another section, browsing through messages on colored ash-
\ndesigned envelopes, one might find the answer to the Asmaul Husna
\ncalligraphic abstractions by the poet-cum-painter himself, A.
\nMustofa Bisri.<\/p>\n
\"If I should purposely paint the fiery outbursts of my heart,
\nit would be quite difficult for me to find the colors and compose
\nthem.\"<\/p>\n
His simple Islamic views are conveyed in thought-provoking
\nstyle at the Aula Hall Art Gallery on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur,
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The exhibition of 99 envelopes, 15 calligraphies and 10
\npaintings will close at 9 p.m. today.<\/p>\n
A renowned poet and Islamic thinker, Mustofa has published 18
\nbooks on literature and Islam, containing powerful poetical
\nreflections on political, social and cultural concerns in Islamic
\nsocieties.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of his works have been published in local newspapers,
\njournals and magazines. Popularly known as Gus Mus, Mustofa, 53,
\nis father of six daughters and a son.<\/p>\n
Abstractions are undauntingly emphasized, with colors of fiery
\norange on black, viscous white and black on gray and other bold
\ncolor combinations.<\/p>\n
Noteworthy messages on the envelopes contrasted with more
\ncryptic ones.<\/p>\n
Expressions like \"Don't think about how I scribble, just feel
\nthe product of my scribbling\" had little in common with \"I am not
\nfond of dots, except the ones that are ongoing ... forming a line
\non which I walk on ... \"<\/p>\n
The exhibition opening last Saturday had its entertaining
\nmoments. At one point, both Mustofa and Fuad Hasan, former
\nminister of education and culture, were told to \"express
\nthemselves on canvas\".<\/p>\n
While Fuad wrote an Islamic expression with two markers tied
\ntogether, Mustofa chose a gold marker to draw an abstraction.<\/p>\n
During a question-answer session following the opening
\nceremony of the exhibition and its viewing, Fuad shared with the
\naudience Mustofa's answer to one of life's nagging questions.<\/p>\n
\"I asked him that since God was the epitome of perfection,
\nwhere was the need to create imperfect creatures like donkeys
\nwhen He already created horses,\" Fuad said.<\/p>\n
\"Mustofa told me that opposites came in pairs to show people
\nwhat was beauty, and what was not.\"<\/p>\n
Mustofa himself gave the definitive description of his art and
\nmessage.<\/p>\n
\"I portray something really simple, as something that cannot
\nbe trivialized.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poet-expresses-islamic-views-in-painting-expo-1447893297",
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