A Pure Desire 59

DELVE An Artful Book by Jehan Ali.

Artist Statement

Born in Baghdad, 1978. I am Iraqi! When I was a child I won the first prize for Child of the Gulf Drawing Competition held in Kuwait, 1989.

Then, wars tossed me like many others over the map, left me wondering: Why? The answer was unconvincing to the question, just that; evil is never smart.

In my family of doctors and engineers, I was supposed to be a doctor too. But I dropped out of medicine because I was a little bit creative and fell in love with art long long before. Art is life, it is the most beautiful universal language that silently speaks aloud. If pain accumulates to generate creativity, then art heals!

I studied Interior Design at the American University in Dubai. Class of 2001.

Married and a mother. At my home, in my kitchen, art stirs: Food and food for thought. Here, I cook, bake, draw, paint, read, write and take photos.

Then we moved again, and art purrs all over the house; in my mini studio, up & down the stairs, on my bed, out in the garden.

Currently, an author, and have published my first art book; DELVE An Artful Book by Jehan Ali. A series of poetic paintings, enfolding different stories, to wake up the world.

By now I know that I cannot be limited to one medium; lines and forms, my freedom of expression all come with the use of multiple mediums from: acrylics, oil crayons, inks, to coloured pencils, and charcoal. My paintings and collages, step between the abstract and surreal, bold and delicate, opaque and transparent, with a kaleidoscope of bright colours.

I have a gift and I am grateful.

Art Journey:

Represented / Exhibited with:

Represented by Mint Art Haus 2018-present. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A.
Fully Booked Dubai Art Book Fair 2019. From 21st- 23rd March, during Dubai Art Week, at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, U.A.E.
Contemporary Art Station: Shibuya Station Exhibition. From 5th-11th March 2019, During Tokyo Art Fair, at Tokyo Metro, Fukutoshin-Line Shibuya Station, Tokyo.
The Rich List Art Weekend Abu Dhabi, (During the Formula 1 Grandprix Abu Dhabi Weekend). From 23rd-25th November, 2018 at the lobby of Yas Hotel, Yas Island Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Kadak Chai & I, from the 5th-22nd September 2018, at Ahmedia Art Gallery, Ahmedia Heritage House, Al Ras, Diera, Khor Dubai. Organised by W2W Events & PR.
Part of the ‘Mondo Novis’ art sculpture curated by Mr. Peter Gressman and engraved by artist Housi Knesht. To be placed at AlSaadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi 2020.

World Art Dubai 2018 with Noon Art Gallery ( Collage Centre, Sharjah Ladies Club.) From 18^th -21^st April 2018, at Dubai World Trade Centre, Booth: E21.

SNF Dine & Deed Gala Dinner: Special Needs Development Center’s annual dinner. 27th April, 2017. Al Yasat Ballroom, Roda Al Murooj, Downtown Dubai.
4^th Annual Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival. From 19^th– 25^th February, 2016.Supported by; Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.Opening Night Red Carpet Reception, 19^th February 2016. Banyan Tree Al Wadi Resort.Visual Art Exhibition, 20^th– 25^th February, 2016. Ras Al Khaimah National Museum.

Amsterdam Whitney Fine Art Inc. Gallery, Chelsea, (the most beautiful gallery) in New York, 2015.

“Salute To The Stars” Exhibition. From: 1st May to 16th June, New York, 2015. Gala Reception Soiree opening night May 7^th 2015.

Broadway Gallery, New York, 2014.Global Projects artists at home & abroad exhibition. From: 9-29th January, 2014. Reception January 14^th, 2014.

“Tabarek Allah” exhibition, DSF 2009 House of Talents, at The Walk at JBR, Dubai.

Published with:

Mint Art Haus: DELVE- An Artful Book by Jehan Ali, 2019. First edition, hard cover, 140 colourful pages. ISBN number: 978-9948-38-340-6. Printed with United Publishing & Printing.
Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival Catalogue.19 -25 Feb 2016. (rakfinearts.ae).
NYArts Magazine, Artists at Home & Abroad, September issue, 2014. “My Summer Chador” & “Expired Make up” paintings.
Artist Portfolio Magazine, 1^st issue, 2010. “Wrapped in Darkness” painting. Honorable Mentions, Fantasy Art Contest, September, 2010.
Guests Gallery, top ten winners, Work of New Year, 2008. “Tabarek Allah” painting.
Canvas Guide, Art Market volume 4, issue 6 / November- December 2008. “Oh Moon” Painting.

Creative Workshops:

Creative Story Writing Workshop (for children), Sxill Lab and Kalimat Publishing, held at Olioli, AlQouz Dubai, 12^th May, 2018.

Blank Canvas, Dubai Edition, Community art, held at the JamJar, Alserkal Avenue. AlQouz1, Dubai. 14^th April, 2018.

Artist Guidelines Workshop, held at Noon Gallery in Collage Centre, Sharjah Ladies club. 14^th December,2017.

A Painting For A Cause:

* SNF Special Needs Future Development Center, Dine & Deed Gala Dinner. April, 2017. “Al Manara: the Lighthouse” painting.

* Juniors Diabetes Parade U.A.E. , November 2015. The Diabetic Center at The American Hospital in Dubai. ” Type 1 J” painting.

* Breast Cancer Arabia, May, 2014. “Conquer” painting.

* SNF Special Needs Future Development Center, April, 2013. “Bism Allah” painting.

To love each other is half the wisdom. - Imam Ali ***** A friend is a sheltering tree. - Horace ***** In a gentle way you can shake the world. - Ghandi ***** It takes courage to be creative. - Henri Matisse ***** Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. - Nelson Mandela *****

A Pure Desire 64

An Ascension Shards of glass Crashed Into Eminent Shards of Light 4/Aug/2017

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Time Vestibules Time is a passage And The passing of time Halting not Sets us Free From our Cooping Shells 14/March/2017

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Beclouded This night A gorged moon Sunken & obscure This day Snowflakes blend With sand particles 4/Feb/2017

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Axe-Men Hew, hew Wrap the grue-ing Shoulders Souse the Riot Soup Hew, hew… Left them In a heap?! On the Side lane of Disdain! Hew, hew… Heft them Not to weep Crammed Within A sordid Truckload! Hew, hew… 2/Feb/2017

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Charred Him Her The chronicles Of Being Jealous Over Or Of It is maddening Petulant & Maddening 25/Jan/2017

Nil to Nil Leave Take the plunge In the midnight sky Gossamer wings Carried by A foil of light A shield of swifts From the torpor Drift & glide Nip Flick Cleave & Cleave 19/Dec/2016

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Mottled A gale! A florid galaxy Scattered, spattered, across Rubicund skin Counting freckles Joining 14/Dec/2016

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Babel In a dim stable Upon a high hay stack Gleaned Within a gleaming Sun ray Dust particles Ravel Deciphering Our silvery palm line’s Babel 1/Nov/2016

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Trace Umbilical Cords Are never Really Cut 3/Aug/2016

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The Big Bogus Noir liner drips… Borders, Far or torn apart Letters Falling… The big bogus is near! Amber rice weevils Crawling… A giant grasshopper Harvest: Bodies lined in the bog Retching innards! Macabre… Macabre Where is the herald? Hear… 3/7/2014 The Big Bogus, oil on canvas, 51*71cm, 2016.

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A Windfall Dandelions With The wind-flaw Brush Make a Wish Make A wish In this Wispy dreamy Hush Your midnight blue Frock coat Flaps Your silvery Vermilion Tufts Rave & fray & verdant Hetrochromian Gaze Claps, A chary smile Dawns So plush 23/July/2016 A Windfall, mixed media collage, 2016.