By Huda al-Kibsi - Yemen Observer - Sana'a, YemenFriday, July 6, 2007
The story of Joseph’s dream that the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to him, a story related both in the Quran and in the Bible, is depicted by German artist Berno Heitmann in his painting of 11 planets and the sun and moon bending down to the land.
The painting is one of 30 paintings on display in an exhibition titled Every Man Has a Dream at the Bab al-Yemen Gallery in Sana’a. And this painting, which has meaning for both Muslims and Christians, suggests that Heitmann is perhaps seeking with his work to visually create harmony between the two religions.
“I painted eleven stars, the sun and the moon in this painting, which is a story about Joseph and his achieved dream,” said Heitmann. “The story is found in the Quran as it exists in the Bible, like other stories.”
Heitmann read the Quran in the German language for three weeks, seeking the commonalities between the Quran and the Bible. Heitmann is a Christian, whose holy book is the Bible. He tried to translate a number of concepts from Quranic verses in his paintings, using a language of painting and lines.
Heitmann’s paintings were inspired by stories of prophets, such as Joseph, and various religious wisdoms. He added lines to his paintings, both in Arabic and in English.
“You cannot serve both God and money,” said Heitmann on one of his paintings, taking a quote from Caesar. Heitmann studied Arabic calligraphy, including Kufic, Diwani and Persian handwritings. “I think Arabic calligraphies are very beautiful,” he said. “Though I write in English, I think Arabic is more beautiful and could make the painting more beautiful and effective.”
“Many people are asking me why am I writing on my paintings, but I am telling them that this is my own style.”
Dr. Amnah al-Nasiri, an artist, expressed surprise at what she described as Sufism philosophy included in Heitmann’s paintings. “Such Sufism usually stems from the religious culture of the artist, whatever this religion is,” she said. “Either Islam, Judaism or Christianity, they all could tell religious ideas.”
Al-Nasiri believes that Heitmann lives a state of spiritual purity, due to his living in Yemeni places and regions like Hajja, where he works. This state enables him to ponder on the relationship between human beings and God, she said. Heitmann tends to use very pure and simple colors, said al-Nasiri.
The story of Joseph’s dream that the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to him, a story related both in the Quran and in the Bible, is depicted by German artist Berno Heitmann in his painting of 11 planets and the sun and moon bending down to the land.
The painting is one of 30 paintings on display in an exhibition titled Every Man Has a Dream at the Bab al-Yemen Gallery in Sana’a. And this painting, which has meaning for both Muslims and Christians, suggests that Heitmann is perhaps seeking with his work to visually create harmony between the two religions.
“I painted eleven stars, the sun and the moon in this painting, which is a story about Joseph and his achieved dream,” said Heitmann. “The story is found in the Quran as it exists in the Bible, like other stories.”
Heitmann read the Quran in the German language for three weeks, seeking the commonalities between the Quran and the Bible. Heitmann is a Christian, whose holy book is the Bible. He tried to translate a number of concepts from Quranic verses in his paintings, using a language of painting and lines.
Heitmann’s paintings were inspired by stories of prophets, such as Joseph, and various religious wisdoms. He added lines to his paintings, both in Arabic and in English.
“You cannot serve both God and money,” said Heitmann on one of his paintings, taking a quote from Caesar. Heitmann studied Arabic calligraphy, including Kufic, Diwani and Persian handwritings. “I think Arabic calligraphies are very beautiful,” he said. “Though I write in English, I think Arabic is more beautiful and could make the painting more beautiful and effective.”
“Many people are asking me why am I writing on my paintings, but I am telling them that this is my own style.”
Dr. Amnah al-Nasiri, an artist, expressed surprise at what she described as Sufism philosophy included in Heitmann’s paintings. “Such Sufism usually stems from the religious culture of the artist, whatever this religion is,” she said. “Either Islam, Judaism or Christianity, they all could tell religious ideas.”
Al-Nasiri believes that Heitmann lives a state of spiritual purity, due to his living in Yemeni places and regions like Hajja, where he works. This state enables him to ponder on the relationship between human beings and God, she said. Heitmann tends to use very pure and simple colors, said al-Nasiri.
Born in Hamburg in 1969, Heitmann is a German lawyer. However, he now works as a representative for a non-governmental organization in Yemen. He has lived in Hajja for the past year.
[picture: "One cannot serve both God and money" one of the paintings on show ]
[picture: "One cannot serve both God and money" one of the paintings on show ]
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