In the sanctuary of any beautiful painting, it’s hard to find an inspired artist who has the ability to represent its beauty and emotions with a spontaneous and professional touch. However, the fine artist and calligrapher Mohammed Ali Alajlan who is calligrapher artist and researcher in the philosophy of the Arabic crafts, proved the opposite for his unique and brilliant artistic mind which reflects his artwork in an astonishingly way reflecting its cohesion of his soul and self in harmony with the components of this universe. These qualifications define the true soul of an artist.
Over the years, Alajlan has been representing his arts from a different and unfamiliar perceptive in which the ideas and emotions of his masterpiece are combined together producing his unique skills in calligraphy that can be only described as a genius work of art thanks to the determination and stability of his mind.
In his art journey we notice that Alajlan doesn’t follow any artistic orientations or fundamental rules of traditional calligraphy scripts because he believes that they only put limitations that restrict the smoothness and meaning of his paintings.
The more we delve into any of his paintings the more we become certain that his art
calligraphy is not arbitrary or random but is consisted of an unplanned yet united and organized flow of an expressive philosophy of the Arabic character and image floating on the painting surface with such a glorious glow that amaze us all.
It is important to mention that Mohammed Alajlan has become a well-known artist who produced many famous artworks combining modernity wrapped in Arabic authenticity and color waves displayed in his exhibition at “Alajlan Art Gallery” which is based in Riyadh city. The gallery has indeed attracted many artists and visitors interested in the art calligraphy.
Al-Yamamah journal had a special interview with Mohammed Alajlan and quoted the following:
I am the ancient soul of the Arabic letters "
I am the Odes
and I am the lion of Arabs"
The previous quotation was inspired by Alajlan’s masterpiece “Seven Odes".
The art of Alajlan Gallery
Alajlan creates his paintings using unique techniques depending on blending Arabic literature with a touch of sensational memories and experiences giving his work authenticity full of life and hope. He was interested in sharing his solo exhibitions with his family and it is worthy to mention that he inspired the name of his gallery “Seven Dates” after his family members which is consisted of seven persons “his wife and children” not to mention his favorite number 7. He once said about his “Seven Dates“exhibition: “the Seven Dates” Odes is consisted of seven paintings each one of them has a special tale about Riyadh city, I can't say if I have a special secret that attracts me to number seven, but all I can say is that this number simply inspires me.
When seeing Alajlan paintings for the first time you would think that they’re created with such detailed randomness that takes your breath away with its spectacular letters which are drawn in different precise measures of heights and angles with amazing colors. These outstanding works do not resemble the usual arts we used to see every day, they’re performed with a lot of creativity and a continuous effort. This artist as I mentioned earlier is very devoted to his art, he considers his passion for art as his home and life. He does not know comfort and is always accompanied by his feather, armed with determination and energy.
The Aretion of the letter
It is the story of the Arabic letters painted by a brush of an artist in a genius way representing symbolic Arabian letters and expressions bringing together the extraordinary collection of artistic calligraphy.
Alajlan also launched “The Letter of Aretion" exhibition, which was in the honor of the Culture Minister Prince Bader bin Farhan Al Saud, in which he displayed several paintings, including a painting that goes by the name of "The Letter of Aretion".
It is more than just an art...!
Imagine a life without art?
A colorless, soundless, shapeless, tasteless abyss of what we would call "living". But that, in fact, is not living. It is suffering. A life without art is in reality not a life at all. We all need art in our lives, and we'd be lying by denying it. That’s the way Alajlan thinks of art, it is a way where he can express the conflict of feelings and emotions in an artistic rhythm.
Alajlan stresses that he does not follow any artistic orientation, which, he said, limits the artist's emotional perceptions of expression and context resulting in having a lifeless and dull repeated artwork. According to him any artwork should reflect its owner's experiences and emotions in order to have a meaningful masterpiece.
He goes on saying: "I hate repetition and imitating others works, so I always try to show my own view of the course of things and what surrounds me in this universe in a special and emotional perspective that starts with me and comes back to me! Art is not only an acquired skill, but a momentary feeling that stems from fire, air, water and all those blessings that God honors us! All elements of the universe are art, chaos can be transformed into art. Art exists in us that blends with us, conflicts our emotions and leads us to disclosure."
Art is born within the artist
whose imagination is wide and strange
like a little child’s fantasy
incomprehensible and untidy
but within that fantasy lies
a beautiful innocent dream
that can’t be shown without a true soul of an artist
The beautiful chaos!!
While looking closely at the paintings of Alajlan’s exhibition, you’ll see the amazing way of how the contrasted strokes of colors are blended together with such harmony reflecting the beautiful essence of his work. For example, he uses pink and black with a touch of gold creating an astonishing flowing of Arabic letters symbols. It is a psychological process in which he translates his emotions just to reveal his art full of life and hope.
Rana Kheireldine
November 2021 – Rab.l 1443
