EXPLORATION OF LIFE

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 12:49 AM | Posted by Johan


EXPLORATION OF LIFE
Nora Wahab & Johan Ishak
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas
60cm X 150cm
29 September 2015
12:42 a.m.
Buanaseni Studio Shah Alam

KEPT BY ARTIST AS PERSONAL ASSET

The Quranic verse on the right side of the painting is the Throne Verse, a.k.a. Ayatul Kursi.


The Story of Ayatul Kursi:

The Throne Verse (Arabic: آية الكرسي ‎ ʾāyatu-l-kursī), or Ayatul Kursi, is the 255th verse (ayah) of the second chapter (sura) Al-Baqarah (the Cow). It is the most famous verse of the Qur'an and is widely memorised and displayed in the Islamic world due to its emphatic description of God's power over the entire universe. The English translation of Ayatul Kursi is as follows:
  1. Allah — there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining.
  2. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep.
  3. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth.
  4. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission?
  5. He knows what is before them and what is behind them;
  6. And they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases.
  7. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth;
  8. And he feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them,
  9. For He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory).

Ayatul Kursi displays a perfect internal symmetry comprising concentric looping verses surrounding a pivotal chiasm 'x' of the type A B C D X D' C' B' A' The reciter imagines him or herself walking through Ayat Al-Kursi until reaching the centre and seeing what is in front and what is behind, finds they represent a perfect reflection of each other. The central chiasm is represented by "Ya'lamu ma baina aidihim wa ma khalfahum = He knows what is before them and what is behind them" this is flanked symmetrically outwards so that A corresponds to A', B corresponds to B' and so forth. For example line 3 "he is the lord of the heavens and the earth" corresponds exactly to line 7 "his throne extends over heavens and earth". Such is the beauty of this verse that its arrangement is of high level poetic configuration, worthy of the divine words of God that a born illiterate such as Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) could not have created it (the verse) on his own. The Prophet himself acknowledged the power of this verse as evident by his sayings:
“Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death.” [Narrated by an-Nasaaee. Imaam Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh al Jam i as-Sagheer : 6464]




~~~~~


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AL-BAQARAH 255 KUPRUM / THE COW 255 COPPER

Monday, September 28, 2015 at 12:30 AM | Posted by Johan


AL-BAQARAH 255 KUPRUM
THE COW 255 COPPER
Johan Ishak
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas
90cm X 90cm
27 September 2015
8:00 p.m.
Buanaseni Studio Shah Alam

SOLD

The Throne Verse (Arabic: آية الكرسي ‎ ʾāyatu-l-kursī), or Ayatul Kursi, is the 255th verse (ayah) of the second chapter (sura) Al-Baqarah (the Cow). It is the most famous verse of the Qur'an and is widely memorised and displayed in the Islamic world due to its emphatic description of God's power over the entire universe. The English translation of Ayatul Kursi is as follows:
  1. Allah — there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining.
  2. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep.
  3. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth.
  4. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission?
  5. He knows what is before them and what is behind them;
  6. And they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases.
  7. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth;
  8. And he feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them,
  9. For He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory).

Ayatul Kursi displays a perfect internal symmetry comprising concentric looping verses surrounding a pivotal chiasm 'x' of the type A B C D X D' C' B' A' The reciter imagines him or herself walking through Ayat Al-Kursi until reaching the centre and seeing what is in front and what is behind, finds they represent a perfect reflection of each other. The central chiasm is represented by "Ya'lamu ma baina aidihim wa ma khalfahum = He knows what is before them and what is behind them" this is flanked symmetrically outwards so that A corresponds to A', B corresponds to B' and so forth. For example line 3 "he is the lord of the heavens and the earth" corresponds exactly to line 7 "his throne extends over heavens and earth". Such is the beauty of this verse that its arrangement is of high level poetic configuration, worthy of the divine words of God that a born illiterate such as Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) could not have created it (the verse) on his own. The Prophet himself acknowledged the power of this verse as evident by his sayings:
“Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death.” [Narrated by an-Nasaaee. Imaam Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh al Jam i as-Sagheer : 6464]







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MARUAH / DIGNITY

Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 5:24 PM | Posted by Johan


MARUAH
DIGNITY
Johan Ishak
27 September 2015
Acrylic, Charcoal and Spray Paint on Canvas
90cm x 90cm
Buanaseni Studio Shah Alam
 www.buanaseni.blogspot.com

SOLD







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AL-BAQARAH 255 AZURA / THE COW 255 AZURE

Friday, September 18, 2015 at 12:53 PM | Posted by Johan


AL-BAQARAH 255 AZURA
THE COW 255 AZURE
Johan Ishak
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas
120cm X 90cm
18 September 2015
1:00 p.m.
Buanaseni Studio Shah Alam

SOLD

The Throne Verse (Arabic: آية الكرسي ‎ ʾāyatu-l-kursī), or Ayatul Kursi, is the 255th verse (ayah) of the second chapter (sura) Al-Baqarah (the Cow). It is the most famous verse of the Qur'an and is widely memorised and displayed in the Islamic world due to its emphatic description of God's power over the entire universe. The English translation of Ayatul Kursi is as follows:
  1. Allah — there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining.
  2. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep.
  3. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth.
  4. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission?
  5. He knows what is before them and what is behind them;
  6. And they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases.
  7. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth;
  8. And he feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them,
  9. For He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory).

Ayatul Kursi displays a perfect internal symmetry comprising concentric looping verses surrounding a pivotal chiasm 'x' of the type A B C D X D' C' B' A' The reciter imagines him or herself walking through Ayat Al-Kursi until reaching the centre and seeing what is in front and what is behind, finds they represent a perfect reflection of each other. The central chiasm is represented by "Ya'lamu ma baina aidihim wa ma khalfahum = He knows what is before them and what is behind them" this is flanked symmetrically outwards so that A corresponds to A', B corresponds to B' and so forth. For example line 3 "he is the lord of the heavens and the earth" corresponds exactly to line 7 "his throne extends over heavens and earth". Such is the beauty of this verse that its arrangement is of high level poetic configuration, worthy of the divine words of God that a born illiterate such as Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) could not have created it (the verse) on his own. The Prophet himself acknowledged the power of this verse as evident by his sayings:
“Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death.” [Narrated by an-Nasaaee. Imaam Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh al Jam i as-Sagheer : 6464]






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JOHAN (PRESUMABLY?)

Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 11:23 PM | Posted by Johan


JOHAN (PRESUMABLY?)
Fairuz Paisan
2015
Woodwork Sculpture
45cm x 45cm x 5cm
Acquisition Date: 17 September 2015



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ASMA'UL HUSNA MUSIM BUNGA / THE 100 NAMES OF GOD IN SPRING

Monday, September 14, 2015 at 6:37 AM | Posted by Johan


ASMA'UL HUSNA MUSIM BUNGA
THE 100 NAMES OF GOD IN SPRING
Johan Ishak
13 September 2015
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas
3 panels x 90cm x 30cm
(Triptic)
Buanaseni Studio Shah Alam
 www.buanaseni.blogspot.com

SOLD




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AL-ALAQ MISTIKAL / THE MYSTICAL BLOOD CLOT

at 6:30 AM | Posted by Johan


AL-ALAQ MISTIKAL
THE MYSTICAL BLOOD CLOT
Johan Ishak
13 September 2015
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas
120cm x 90cm
Buanaseni Studio Shah Alam
 www.buanaseni.blogspot.com

SOLD


This is one of the works done for the Al-Alaq series. Al-Alaq is the 96th sura or chapter of the Qur'an. It is composed of 19 ayat (verses or "signs"), and is traditionally believed to have been revealed at Mecca at cave Hira. It is sometimes also known as Sūrat al-Iqrā ("Read"). The first five verses of this sura are believed by nearly all sources to be the first verses of the Qur'an to be revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The linguistic definition of ′alaq'  is "leech", "medicinal leech", "coagulated blood", "blood clot", or "the early stage of the embryo". ′Alaq' is also a derivative of 'alaqa' which means "attached and hanging to something." The term ′alaqah' is the second stage of human prenatal development (sura Al-Mu’minoon 23: 12-14) which "descriptively encompasses the primary external and internal features" of the early embryo. The term ′alaqah' also occurs in several languages related to Arabic. In Hebrew there is 'alûqāh' (or alukah), the generic name for any blood-sucking worm or leech, and in Aramaic and Syriac there are words with apparently similar meanings. This sura has two parts: the first part consists of vv. 1-5, and the second of vv. 6-19. About the first part a great majority of the Islamic scholars are agreed that it forms the first revelation to be sent down to prophet Muhammad in 610. In this regard, the Hadith from Aisha, which Ibn Hanbal, Bukhari, Muslim and other traditionists have related with several chains of authorities, is one of the most authentic Hadith on the subject. In it Aisha narrates the full story of the beginning of revelation as she herself heard it from Muhammad. Besides, Ibn Abbas, Abu Musa al-Ashari and a group of the Companions also are reported to have stated that these were the very first verses of the Quran to be revealed to Muhammad. The second part was composed later, when Muhammad began to perform the prescribed prayer in the precincts of the Kaaba, and Abu Jahl tried to prevent him from this with threats.

The English translation of Al-Alaq is as follows:

1. Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),
2. Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).
3. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous,
4. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen [the first person to write was Prophet Idrees (Enoch)],
5. Has taught man that which he knew not.
6. Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds (in disbelief and evil deed, etc.).
7. Because he considers himself self-sufficient.
8. Surely! Unto your Lord is the return.
9. Have you (O Muhammad) seen him (i.e. Abu Jahl) who prevents?,
10. A slave (Muhammad) when he prays?
11. Tell me, if he (Muhammad) is on the guidance (of Allah)?
12. Or enjoins piety?
13. Tell me if he (the disbeliever, Abu Jahl) denies (the truth, i.e. this Qur'an), and turns away?
14. Knows he not that Allah does see (what he does)?
15. Nay! If he (Abu Jahl) ceases not, We will catch him by the forelock,
16. A lying, sinful forelock!
17. Then, let him call upon his council (of helpers),
18. We will call the guards of Hell (to deal with him)!
19. Nay! (O Muhammad)! Do not obey him (Abu Jahl). Fall prostrate and draw near to Allah!
  
When read, I was fascinated by ayats (verses) 9 and 14 which reads "Have you seen him who prevents?" and "Knows he not that Allah does see?". This emphasises symbolic status of the sura (chapter) of the Holy Quran for being the first sura to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad and to mankind. The sura was revealed to Prophet Muhammad by Angel Jibrail (Gabriel) when he (Muhammad) was not even aware that he has been appointed by Allah (God). Therefore, this sura is the only sura revealed to Prophet Muhammad before he knew he is a prophet. So strong is the relevance of this sura that I have noticed ayats 9 ad 14 to be acknowledged as the key points as they portray the essence of the sura in the context of enlightening mankind to the existence of God - by suggesting the idea of the threat of rejection of Prophet Muhammad by Abu Jahl, a prominent Arab Aristocrat, or any man at all (or even Muhammad himself), but in the end, Muhammad triumph (as a prophet), for which, only Allah (God) Himself knew best, and well in advance of this (referring the the 2nd leg that says "Knows he not that Allah does see?"


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DON'T GO NUTS : WORLD DOMINATION

Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 2:30 AM | Posted by Johan


DON'T GO NUTS : WORLD DOMINATION
Azad Daniel
2015
Chrome painted fiber glass and stainless steel
Sculpture: 30cm x 10cm x 10cm
Acquisition Date: 9 September 2015
Artcube Gallery at Art Expo 2015.








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TEBEKANG

Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 8:12 AM | Posted by Johan


TEBEKANG
Anniketyni Madian
2015
Woodwork Sculpture
150cm x 150cm x 10cm
Acquisition Date: 2 September 2015
Tebekang means Nature's Beauty in Iban Laut Language, a language of a tribe from a land where Anniketyni comes from, Sarawak of the Borneo Island. The wood carvings are also the reflection of the Sarawak indigeneous aesthetic designs and motives. This is the first of the Tebekang series that has 4 butterfly shaped woodworks. The above photo with Anniketyni is Tebekang No.4. The butterfly symbolises Nature to which the beauty radiates from. This is also Anniketyni's first departure from the usual squares, rectangulars and circle shapes. This work was showcased in a group show (Anniketyni and Paisan) at Artcube Gallery at the Intermark. The other Tebekang series are as follows:







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