Ali Omar Ermes, a renowned artist who worked in contemporary calligraphy, has died.
Ermes was born in the Libyan capital of Tripoli in 1945 and studied at the University of Plymouth in the UK. He earned a master's degree at what became Central Saint Martins, in London, where he lived from 1981 onwards.
He successfully straddled the spheres of calligraphy and western art. His artworks are collected by major art institutions such as the British Museum in London, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
Sultan Al Qassemi shared a picture of himself with Ali Omar Ermes, left:
The work was painterly, often isolating a single letter and allowing to allude to a well-known poem or Islamic principle, rather than perfectly transcribing a painting or saying. The Seventh Ode (1993), for example, relates to the Al Muallaqat As Sabaa, a collection of seven pre-Islamic Arabic poems.
Some of these were embroidered on gold cloth and hung over the Kaaba – a history the work alludes to in its gold colouring. The kinetic, painted background suggests the variations of cloth while the written lines of the poem surround the central word of the painting.
He also addressed topics such as the environmental crisis, man’s abuse of nature, and historical events in Arab and Libyan history, such as the Libyan resistance movements of the 1920s and 1930s.
While his subject matter was rooted in his Islamic identity, the thick lines of the letters allowed them to function as canvases in themselves, often incorporating abstract compositions within their very bounds.
Ermes deliberately explored the ability of his artwork to function both within the realm of Islamic calligraphy and secular painting, and in his media appearances and given papers sought to bridge the two cultures of Libyan and British that he lived between.
He was also a great intellect, and frequently published papers on Islamic heritage, faith and Arab identity. These contributions, often to events organised by universities, took stock of western Islamophobia and lack of familiarity with Arab art forms such as calligraphy – which he sought to support.
From the 1970s, he worked to help the infrastructure around Arab art abroad, assisting the World of Islam Festival in London in 1976 and later chairing the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in the city.
Fight card
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Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
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12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
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