Allahu Akbar
Digital Animation, 5:10 (2003)
Film by Usama Alshaibi
(watch here)
Allahu Akbar is based on ancient Islamic Allover patterns that are used for various artistic ornamentation in Arab culture. In Islam it is forbidden to have depiction’s of God or the Prophet. Complex geometrical patterns are used to praise the perfection of God in nature. My Father came to visit me from the Middle East and brought me a book of these hand drawn Islamic patterns. These beautiful and intricate designs were on this brown newsprint, it looked like a book a craft-person would use, almost like a blueprint. I took these images, scanned them, cleaned them up and started animating them. I began to spin and move these Allover patterns in post-editing motion tools. New images emerged and created an entirely different way of viewing these traditionally static designs. Allahu Akbar attempts to come closer to that ultimate beauty and mystery. (Usama Alshaibi)
“…shimmying geometries celebrate the liberation from image making.” -From Aniconism to Bliss: Media art shows its Islamic roots, Pacific Cinematheque,Vancouver, September 20, 2010. This program is presented in conjunction with the launch of Laura U. Marks’s book Enfoldment and Infinity: An Islamic Genealogy of New Media Art (MIT Press, 2010)
“In Allahu Akbar, the US based filmmaker Usama Alshaibi has created joyful and playful animations out of the traditional geometric themes of Islamic art. These complex geometries are rendered in simple black and white, and then superimposed and spun around their central axis, in a close rhythmic relationship with the lively soundtrack of traditional and popular Iraqi music. The result is a giddy playfulness, reminiscent of psychedelic Pop Art, and far removed from the contemplative quiet I normally associate with Mosques and the inner courtyards of traditional Arab architecture. The video also recalls the films of Harry Smith. My only complaint is that, for a person like me who really loves this music, I could have watched a much longer film which used at least one complete musical selection!”-RESISTANCE(S) DVD Review by David Finkelstein (Film Threat 2006)
“Usama Alshaibi’s Allahu Akbar, whose hypnotic geometrical patterns seem inspired by Islamic art but whose bouncy sound track rebukes ultraorthodox Islam’s prohibition of sensual pleasures, including music.” -Fred Camper, recommended program-Chicago Reader (Nov.21, 2003)
Allahu Akbar is also available on ‘RESISTANCE[S]: Experimental films from the Middle East and North Africa and is on a global tour to promote the DVD. For more information go to: lowave.com
Exhibitions and Screenings
Sur le motif” (“On the Pattern”) at the Center d’art Madeleine-Lambert in Vénissieux, France, from 12/2022 to 2/25, 2023
From Aniconism to Bliss: Media art shows its Islamic roots, By Laura U. Marks coincides with the publication of her book Enfoldment and Infinity: An Islamic Genealogy of New Media Art. DIM Cinema, Pacific Cinematheque Theatre (2010)
Reframing Reality: Glimpses into Lowave archive – Museet for Samtidskunst / Museum of Contemporary Art, Roskilde (2010)
Kratkofil festival in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, Tunis, Tunisia, with the ‘El Teatro’ group, and in Nouakchott in Mauritania with ‘La Maison Des Cineastes’ (2009)
Solus FIlm Collective, Anthology Film Archives, New York, NY (2008)
L’Ancre, Charleroi, Belgium (April 28th to Saturday May 9, 2009)
RESISTANCE[S], Third Guangzhou Triennal, China (2008)
Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece (2008)
El HEMA Koopavond 10: Film Screening Resistance[s], Amsterdam (2007)
Directors Lounge, Contemporary Media and Art, Berlin (2007)
Sync, Kinema Screenings’ international eclectic program, Greece (2006)
Festival du Monde Arabe de Montreal (October-November, 2007)
Coding:Decoding: Nikolaj, Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center (2006)
4thToronto Arab Film Festival, Canada (2005)
20,000 Leagues Under the Industry Film Festival, MOCA Cleveland (2005)
Movieside at Facets Cinémathèque, Chicago (2005)
Movieside Film Festival, Chicago (2003)
Select Media Festival 2, Chicago, Rotterdam, Amsterdam (2003)
Chicago Underground Film Festival (2003)