LONDON, ENGLAND.- Ali Omar Ermes is a globally renowned artist, one of the most gifted contemporary Islamic artists of today and probably the most collected artist in the Islamic world. He is staging his first one man-show for a decade in London, 47 Albemarle Street, Mayfair in October during the Islamic Art’s week.

Merrill Lynch sponsors the exhibition. This is one of the first occasions a major sponsor of the Arts has undertaken such a solid move in sponsoring a credible exhibition like this. With Merrill Lynch’s strong positioning within the world’s market and with the global recognition Ali Omar Ermes holds as an artist, a suitable partnership was found. For more information on Merrill Lynch, please visit www.ml.com.

The paintings comprise of calligraphic and abstracts, that range from approx 1m square to 3m square, his work embodies the traditional Arabic love of literature in various stunning spontaneous images of calligraphic and letterforms, where he places his subject matter against a rich textured abstract ground. Ermes delights in shape and colour and has a traditional deep-rooted respect for detail. Ali Omar Ermes - In Context aims to show how Arabic calligraphy has influenced not only his work but also that of earlier artists for over a thousand years, showing the pivotal role of calligraphy as the essence of abstract art in all ages and how it became an art form in the finest sense.  As part of the context, a selection of early calligraphy is also on show highlighting pages from the Koran. These pages specifically look at examples of early Kufic, Andalusian and maghribi script. 

Ali Omar regards himself as a painter who uses calligraphic forms as a subject matter in his work and this gives him a greater freedom of _expression in many levels of application, his reference are the various aspects from enormously rich Islamic living heritage and cultures as well as the various strands of human experiences.  He is also a writer and poet, interlacing the wisdom and beauty of _expression of early Arab poetry into his compositions. His favoured poets are many but to name a few - the pre-Islamic literary pioneer Zuhair Ibn Abi-Sulma and other stunning Islamic poets like Abu Firas Al-Hamadani, Abu Al Tayyib Al Mutanabbi and Abul Ala Al Ma’arri – and the list is long, who brought issues of the human condition to the forefront of thinking of the day. Thus the work of Ali Omar Ermes as seen in Ali Omar - In Context takes issue with human conditions and can be described as multifaceted: a strong visual impact seamlessly blended with an historical and literary link with the Arab/Islamic past and bridging it with the present to the future and in reference to various human endeavours

There is an interesting mixture of influences in this artist’s work, from his strong personal beliefs, to his interest in literature especially poetry and his passion for colour, form and texture as a means of _expression in his paintings plus his unique technique in accomplishing this cohesive work of art. His talent as a fine photographer added an extra disciplined approach to his work technique; as a painter his inspiration is drawn primarily from the Islamic culture but also includes other cultures. As Ali Omar says: ‘Mine is a distinctive thought movement engaging Arabic, Islamic, World Art and Literature, sharing well-rooted Islamic humane values towards a healthier existence for worldwide citizenship.’

Ali Omar’s painting appeals particularly to a sophisticated audience, who appreciate the natural ways he embodies his artwork and the beauty, strength and colours he brings from all these elements collectively or separately to his work, all that is appreciated by various people from various backgrounds with a mature taste in art and highly sophisticated culture and lifestyle.

His work can be seen in the permanent collections of internationally respected museums such as; The Ashmolean and The British Museum in Great Britain, The Sackler/Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, his work is currently being exhibited at the Smithsonian in the exhibition ‘Journeys and Destinations: African Artists on the Move’ and is also part of a British Museum touring exhibition that was exhibited in Australia at the Ian Potter Museum in Melbourne. You can also see his works in the collections of the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam, as well as the most important collections, both public and private, through out the Middle East. His work is seen and admired by an international audience, be it Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Hindu, from South East Asia, across the Middle East, throughout Europe and North America.

He is therefore seen as a World artist with a global following.

As an artist I am constantly searching, ceaselessly broadening the means of my artistic _expression and pushing forward the frontiers of art.  I want to express myself using all the tools at my disposal from colour and movement to poetry, the rhythm and resonance of the calligraphy together with the poetry further develops and explores a greater power of _expression.  I hope that this _expression is attainable to all and that it is hospitable to cultures other than my own.’ Ali Omar Ermes 2003. Ali Omar Ermes in Context is organised by his agents Art Advisory Associates Ltd.