Exhibition of Sufi artist's work
Ali Hasan Conway (ra) was a Sufi painter, calligrapher, puppeteer, costume designer and teacher. Born in the US, he and his family were blessed with the opportunity (after embracing Islam in 1978) to live with spiritual communities in Costa Rica, the UK, the US, Dominican Republic and Indonesia.
Ali Hasan is best known as the artist who did the covers and liner notes for five of Sufi music ensemble DEBU's first albums. He incorporated many different media including pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, pastels, oils and watercolors, which were rendered on paper, parchment and canvas.
After moving to Indonesia in 1999, Ali Hasan began diligently devoting his time to his artwork when his shaykh encouraged him to do so. He also began to experiment with digitally created computer art, using a stylus and scanning in physical drawings.
In October 2010 Ali Hasan was hospitalized in Jakarta. Before returning home, he was inspired (his "Bucket List" of sorts) to make the intention to create a new digital calligraphy every day featuring the name of Allah. He was successful in carrying out this vow, right up to a few hours before he passed away on November 18, 2011.
There are 390 calligraphies in this series.
Ali Hasan shared that his primary objective was that his artwork be a source of joy for whomever beholds it. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'uun.
Remembrance of Allah: Exhibition of Sufi Artist Ali Hasan's (ra) Artwork |
This year's Creativity and the Spiritual Path gathering in Kuala Lumpur on April 7th and 8th features a tribute to the late Sufi artist Ali Hasan Conway (rahmatullah allayh). How fitting that this slide show and exhibition is at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia! |
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For further information about Ali Hasan and his work, please visit SufiArtwork.com or contact [email protected]. |