| Umm Aisha, Awakening Art |
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Born 1972 in Bolton, UK.
Now in Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
I am an artist with a passion for both contemporary and traditional abstract Islamic Art.
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| About the Artist |
My paintings are in various mediums, each with their own depth of meaning. Inspiration for the paintings is found everywhere, but most importantly from the Quran and the words of God.
I paint Arabic & Islamic art using traditional calligraphy styles balanced with contemporary abstract design, with a vision to portray my faith as one of harmony, mercy, and forgiveness. With peace, love and true belief being the essence of a tranquil life, I try to capture the heart of the onlooker and give them a constant reminder of the soul's yearning to journey from darkness to light. A spiritual awakening to the path of serenity and tranquillity.
Many believe Islam to be a strict and barbaric religion; I hope my paintings can portray what peace I have found as a British born Muslim, through my faith.
Artwork can be bought via saleroom online link.
Copyright Information:
Umm Aisha retains copyrights to all sold artwork. All images are digital reproductions of the original paintings, colours may vary slightly compared to the originals. No copying, publication of downloaded art images will be permitted without Umm Aisha's consent and permission.
All rights reserved. © Copyright 2005-2009 Umm Aisha. |
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Click to enlarge images (if larger image has been loaded) |
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Bismillah
2009 Acrylic & glass on canvas 80 x 40 cm |
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A modish & chic contemporary piece of mixed media.
Bismillah (Meaning - In the name of God, the most merciful) written in cream Kufic Arabic script over a background base of dark maroon. A detailed rectangle of swirly maroon patterns over a cream base is on the top left of the painting.
The textured strip detail on the right of the painting has been painted using a base of cream with maroon over tiny glass beads.
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The Ocean
2009 Acrylic on canvas 50 x 70 cm |
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This painting represents the ocean as mentioned in the Quran in Surah Kahf Chapter 18, Verse 109. Painted in royal blue and sky blue with the verse in Naskh style Arabic script in corresponding royal blue. Translation of Verse: “If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid”. |
Allah / Mohammad
2009 Acrylic & Marble Dust on Acrylic 80 x 40 cm |
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A gold and chocolate brown corresponding abstract piece with the names Allah &
Mohammad in contrasting corners.
This painting is in mixed media with the acrylic paint mixed with course marble dust to create the texture of a sand like background. This effect also allows the light to bounce off the varnished painting in a dazzling manner.
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Paisley Detailed Bismillah
2009 Acylic on Canvas 50 x 40 cm |
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An eye-catching piece with Bismillah (Meaning- In the name of God the most merciful) in Thuluth style Arabic script and detailed paisley pattern alongside.
Dark maroon background with a centre highlight of marble tones of dusky rose, baby pink and maroon over a cream base.
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Kun FayaKoon / “BE” and it is!
2009 Acylic on Canvas 50 x 70 cm |
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This painting with its striking dark background and central fusion of colour symbolises the existence out of non-existence that God created.
The fusion of colours represents atoms forming in the beginning of time where God just says Kun Fayakoon – BE and it is.
This is an extract of verse 82 in chapter 36 of the Quran.
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Victory
2005 Acylic on paper Frame Size 40 x 50 cm |
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A very stylish and chic painting with a background of crushed cream mounted with chocolate brown.
The centre inscription is one seen all over the Alhambra palace in Granada in southern Spain. This was the motto of the Muslims of the Nasrid Dynasty (1237-1492) of Al-Andalus now known as Andalucia.
The centre inscription is in brown and highlighted with red and gold.
Script reads:
“Walaa Gaaliba Illallah” / “The Only Victorious One is God”
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Shahadah / Declaration of Faith
2008 mixed media on canvas 50 x 70 cm |
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Contemporary far eastern influenced abstract painting with Shahadah written in Kufi style. The red circle represents the one-ness and everlasting attribute of God and the five textured layers in the red, represent the five pillars of Islam. The textured black at the top represents chaos outside of the faith. True belief in the shahadah and practising the pillars of Islam, brings your soul out of the darkness and into the light of Islam. Shahadah: There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger Of God. |
Ar-Rahmaan / The Most compassionate
2008 Acrylic on Canvas 40 x 50 cm |
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God is the one who wills mercy & good for all creation. At all times, He pours upon all creation, infinite bounties.The blue strip represents the straight path.Those who follow the straight path, will be showered with God's mercy and compassion. The background represents His blessings showered upon us. The shaded white area is our inability to recognise His bounties. Ar-Rahmaan in centre in decorative Kufi style Arabic script. |
Mercy
2006 Oil on Canvas 61 x 46 cm |
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Hurricane Katrina was the inspiration for this painting. A terrible natural disaster that shocked and affected so many. Many pondered over God’s will and said “it was His wrath on them!” Who are we to judge God’s actions?
Narrated by Abu Hurairah R.A.: The prophet Mohammad SAW said, “When God created the creation, He wrote in his Book that is placed on the Throne with Him and He prescribed for Himself:
“Verily My Mercy Has Overcome My Anger.”
Bukhari 88:2223 & Sahih Muslim
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Al-Aleem / The All-Knowing
2006 Acrylic on canvas 40 x 50 cm |
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Inspired by a falling Autumn leaf, this painting has an abstract leaf in the background.
God is the one who knows all. He knows what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen from the beginning to the end.
Inscription : “...not a leaf falls, but He knows it...”
Extract of Verse 59, from Chapter 6 of the Quran.
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Maalik-ul -Mulk / Possessor of Sovereignty
2006 Oil on canvas 40 x 50 cm |
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God is the Eternal owner of His kingdom. He shares neither the ownership nor the power, government or guardianship of the universe with anyone. Maalik-ul-Mulk is written in Thuluth style script in blue over lime green and blue background. The painting is highlighted with white patterns. The green colour represents the earth and the blue, the sky. Heaven & earth, land & sea all belong to God. |
Peace
2006 Acrylic on canvas 60 x 60 cm |
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God is the illuminator of the light of faith in our hearts.
He is the conforter, the protector of the ones who take refuge in Him.
When we are down and in dark despair, if we turn to As-Salaam, we will surely find the light where peace and tranquility will flourish within our hearts.
The background represents the darkness and the need to go towards the light in our hearts.
As-Salaam translated as The giver of peace is written in the centre in Thuluth style Arabic. |
Modern Living
2006 Acrylic on canvas 40 x 50 cm |
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An abstract contemporary piece representing our modern lifestyles. However fast-paced or modern our life becomes, we remember God in our lives. God's name in contemporary Arabic style in the top right and the bottom left corners. |
Al-Aleem / The All-Knowing (2)
2008 Acrylic on Canvas 50 x 70 cm |
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God is the one who knows all. He knows what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen from the beginning to the end.
Al-Aleem which translates The All-Knowing is written in the centre of the branch of leaves.
Inscription at the bottom next to a fallen leaf reads: "Not a leaf falls, but He knows it...” Extract of Verse 59, from Chapter 6 of the Quran.
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Inferno
2008 Mixed Media on Canvas 50 x 70 cm |
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This painting represents the inferno of hell. The heat and flames will be too much for anyone to withstand. Remembrance of God and God-conciousness at all times will save us from the fire of hell IA. God's name has been written in Arabic in the shape of a flame, on either end of the gold/copper leaf squares, which represent the light of goodness.
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Elevation (From Darkness To Light)
2005 Acrylic on paper Frame size 50 x 70cm |
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This painting represents the darkness within our hearts. We strive to clean our hearts aiming to be one of the righteous, the ones at the top. The White strip at the top represents the most pure, the most righteous, of whom there are few. Inscription in Naskh style Arabic reads: “Wherewith God guides all those who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His will unto light and guides them to a straight way.” |
Al-Wali / The Friend (The Patron)
2005 Acrylic on paper Frame Size 40 x 50cm |
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Contemporary abstract piece with contrasting black and white scripts. Al-Wali: God is the protecting friend of His good servants. He eliminates their difficulties and gives them guidance, peace and success in their affairs in this world and in the hereafter. The white represents belief in God and the black background, represents darkness which exists without belief in Him. Inscription around Allah (God in Arabic) reads; "God is the protector/guardian of those who believe. He brings them out of darkness into Light." Extract of Chapter 2 Verse 257 of Quran. |
Faith
2005 Acrylic on paper Frame Size 50 x 70cm |
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This painting is very close to my heart as it is a representation of my own self. A British born Muslim of Indian Origin. The detailed paisley patterns symbolise my Asian sub-continent background. The Article of Faith, the Shahadah is written in Thuluth style Arabic in the paisley design in the centre, with its translation in Urdu on the left and in Gujerati on the right. My religion was taught to me via the Urdu language and the Gujerati translation is there as I am a Gujerati Muslim. Shahadah reads: There is none worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is God’s messenger. A fusion of beige, brown & gold, like the fusion of my own background.
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Al-Baaqee / The Eternal
2005 Watercolour & Ink Frame Size 40 x 50cm |
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God is the everlasting one whose existence in the future is forever. He has neither beginning nor end. The creation will end and time with it. But God, the everlasting one, will still exist. A piece entirely made up of circles big and small. Circles because there nature has no beginning and no end. The centre circle containing one of God's 99 names, Al-Baqee, The Eternal, highlighted with Gold ink.
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Eternity
2005 Watercolour & Gouche Frame Size 50 x 70cm |
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A geometric patterned piece using circles everywhere. Even God's name is in the corners in the shape of circles. Circles because there nature has no beginning and no end representing God's eternal nature.
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Glorify
2005 Watercolour Frame Size 30 x 40cm |
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A watercolour of a sunset. Arabic in top right translates: "And glorify Him morning & evening." |
Last Actions
2005 Acrylic on paper Frame Size 40 x 50cm |
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A lilac piece with repeated Allah in the background made up of several shades of lilac and white. Main inscription in Arabic and translation in Old English script. The surround is a mosaic effect of detailed acrylic colour allowing the inscription to stand out in its own right. Inscription : “And Verily the deeds are decided by the Last Actions” Bukhari |
An-Noor / The Light
2005 Acrylic & Ink on paper Frame Size 50 x 70cm |
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God is the light that is shed upon the whole creation, making it apparent. That light is the light that brought existence out of the darkness of non-existence. An-Noor, The Light written within the centre circle in turquoise blue over yellow in Thuluth style Arabic script. The gold highlighting the light shining from the Almighty’s beautiful name. Verse below: “Light upon light! God guides to this Light whom He wills.” Quran 24:35 |
Time
2005 Acrylic on paper Frame Size 30 x 40cm |
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This piece has a background of crushed effect pink with a chapter of the Quran in Arabic in white. This very short chapter is called 'The Time'. God begins this chapter by swearing by 'the passing time' and explains how man is in loss if he does not make the most of his time by filling it with good deeds, which will 'pay off' in the life of the Hereafter.
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Towards The Light
2009 Acrylic on Canvas 101 x 76cm |
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The Arabic phrase shown in Thuluth Script in the top right of the painting, is pronounced as Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim, and is a beautifully poetic phrase which offers both deep insight and brilliant inspiration.
The common translation, "In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate", fails to capture either the true depth of meaning or the inspirational message of this beautiful phrase.
This phrase is truly an ideal to be expressed from the heart, an ideal to be expressed with the utmost sincerity, an ideal which leads us toward sacred purpose, the purpose for which we have been given life.
This particular painting represents our paths we choose to take and the sincerity within our hearts. One who chooses to follow the path of truth and righteousness with bismillah and good sincere intentions, will thrive in Gods's bounties and will see the light of faith shine in their hearts.
Those who choose to ignore the message of truth and who indulge in damaging deeds, will only have a thorny end to look forward to.
Whatever we do, every step that we take, every breath that we breathe, is done for, because of, and through the essence of, the One, who has created us.
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| Education and biography |
PAINTINGS HELD IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN:
Indonesia
UAE
Saudi Arabia
India
USA
Malaysia
EXHIBITIONS:
June 2009 - Porchester Hall, Bayswater, London, UK.
May 2009 - Dazzle & Dine Banquet, Barking, Essex, UK.
March 2008 Dazzle & Dine Banquet, Barking, Essex, UK.
October 2007 - Schools in Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
August- September 2006 - Arabian Nights, Whitechapel, London, UK.
August 2006 - Dali Universe, County Hall Gallery, South Bank, Westminster, London, UK.
March - April 2006 - Halaliano Restaurant, Mile End, London, UK
July 2005 - South East Essex Cultural Centre, Billericay, Essex, UK |
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Website: awakeningart.wordpress.com |
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