Zion’s Light

 

The Light of Zion: A Call for Hope! 

If we wish to survive in this age of triviality and hatred, we must focus on the bridges and spiritual commonalities between the worlds of Christianity and Judaism. Zion may be seen as a cornerstone where souls and freedoms converge: it is the beating heart of Jerusalem, the dwelling place of the Lord and the Kingdom of David, while in Christianity it symbolizes the eternal Kingdom of God and the gathering place of the redeemed—thus linking the hope of the Old Testament with the reality of the New Testament. As I seek to avoid falling into the trap of religious excess, I focus in my work on the essence of true religions, which regard love and peace as their fundamental pillars. From this perspective, I see Zion as the true window that connects the material world with our spiritual refuge. 

The artwork Zion’s Light was executed using the Logogramism style. It is characterized by free movement between visual elements rendered in layered, mixed media and areas of freely flowing, warmly graduated colors, all within a composition resembling a schematic plan of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount in this spiritual work encompasses three principal symbols, signifying the peace of the Lord and His divine power protecting Solomon’s Temple, alongside the Temple itself as a symbol of civility and order associated with divine justice, while above the scene, a warm sun radiates.

One can also discern the tomb of King David adjacent to the left side of the wall of the Temple Mount area, while surrounding the walls are chromatic formations that allude to the darkness of hatred and violence encircling the City of Peace.

 

It is worth noting that Zion’s Light, an abstract–symbolic artwork, stands as a manifesto and a call for peace against violence, and for love against hatred.

From a technical standpoint, the artwork expresses the Logogramism style with high craftsmanship and fidelity to visual symbols whose significance derives from the antiquity of the land where the foundations of writing were invented—the land in which Abraham, the father of the Hebrew nation, was born. In short, Zion’s Light is a call for hope in a world besieged by the forces of darkness.

 

Subject:  Zion’s Light

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

Measurements: 36 x 36 Inches

Date: Dec. 2025

Price: $35,000

IMPASSE

 

The known way is an impasse. ~ Heraclitus

IMPASSE

The word “Impasse” in the language of our ancestors — from whom our father Abraham, the patriarch of the Hebrew nation, descended — was “SILA, suqāqu.” This word came to my mind as I was looking at a marble sculpture of a nude female from the Uruk period, dating back to c. 4000 BC. That statue represents one of the finest examples of the artistic advancement that blended abstraction and realism. Even though I usually think of the “Lion of Eridu” sculpture when I refer to blending abstraction and realism. In fact, “Lion of Eridu” is another figurative artwork that skillfully employs simplified lines and abstracted details.

For years, I had aspired to create an artwork inspired by both of these ancient artworks, yet for one reason or another, I never did.

During a visit to the British Museum, my eyes fell upon a terracotta sculpture crafted by my brilliant ancestors, titled “The Goddess of the Night.” It depicts the goddess Ereshkigal, deity of the underworld, executed in a simplified style that reduces the multitude of details typically found in such magnificent works. There is a striking resemblance between the pictographic word “Sila” and a visual feature that immediately draws the viewer’s eye — one that also appears repeatedly in statues of the Mesopotamian Mother Goddess, symbol of fertility, dating back to the 6th millennium BC.

Eventually, I decided to create the artwork, titled “Impasse,” which embraces the simplification of form and color in a way that echoes the achievements of my ancestors — the founders of the cradle of civilization. It also takes my Logogramism style on step further.  

To achieve such a mixture, I used only neutral colors (black, white, and their gradations) in acrylics combined with natural materials such as sand and glue, in order to give an impression of the intersection point between doubt and certainty, as well as greater gravity to capture the viewer’s attention.

This artwork appears to the observer as simple as it is complex, and as mysterious as it is clear. And so, the viewer stands before it, wondering and uncertain — is it an impasse or a solution?

 

Subject: Impasse

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Hardboard Canvas

Measurements: 22 x 28 Inches

Date: October 2025

Price: $23,000

The Invisible Significance of Destiny

 

DESTINY 

Since I was six years old, or I might still be, I dreamed of interpreting and sharing my dreams with the world. However, to make my dreams come true I promised myself to be as resilient as I could so that I would be able to walk my path and meet my destiny!                                                             

The Invisible Significance of Destiny from my viewpoint refers to the idea that while we may not be able to see or fully understand the forces shaping our lives, there is still a powerful, underlying "destiny" at play, influencing our choices and experiences, often connected to concepts of fate, or divine will.

It is noteworthy that my ancestors happened to be the first to address this concept in the Epic of Gilgamesh. My ancestors were also the ones who created a pictorial symbol called šīmtu in the 5^th millennium BC. Šīmtu which symbolizes a shorebird was also the main theme in the "The Myth of Anzu" aka "Tablet of Destiny" characterizing the mythical bird Anzû.

This concept inspired me to depict my special view of destiny using the Logogramism art style that I created in 1988.  Although I am more comfortable using the 1/3 ratio to control the surfaces of my medium, I found myself diving into the canvas this time using two major areas with sub-sections that represent Earth (Arsu) mixed with layers of Sea (tāmtu) and Sky (ilu), meaning, "The ground and surrounding water we live on and heaven we seek". In other words, the physical world, or Earth, where we currently exist, while simultaneously looking towards and aspiring to a spiritual realm, that we call "heaven".

To make this artwork more interesting, I added the third realm of the "Twilight Zone" between Earth covered by layers of water, and Heaven, where we can leave our limited physical bodies that are captivated by gravity and be elevated to a higher level of existence made out of pure energy, i.e., souls. This realm of inevitability faces the symbol of traveling to nowhere (mātu | three triangles), which marks the many years I spent looking for a new home of hope.

        I consider this artwork the perfect outcome of my many decades of experience using pictographs. This artwork also shows the consistency of a solid style, free of any kind of red lines. My long-appreciated technique can be easily recognized, especially the combination of mixed media and acrylic performed with brush strokes of heavy and light colors (shade and tint), as well as the flash movements of palette knife layers. Destiny is a passionate theme that links the mind to the heart and creates an atmosphere of love, spirituality, and the desire to explore our darling dreams.

Subject: Destiny

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

Measurements: 36 x 48 Inches

Date: Dec. 2024 - Final touches, Feb. 31, 2025

Price: $35,000

A Boat that Won't Sink or Float

 

Heart vs. Mind!

This piece is another Ekphrastic Poem from my January 31^st, 2022, Book of Poems, The Book of Love, chapter II (Dandanah/Crooning). This piece of poetry is also considered one of my shortest poems. This poem is about deep but hesitant lovers, whose feelings are like a boat that, "Neither floats nor drowns out". These kinds of lovers try hard to stay balanced or maintain a middle ground, not being overly dominant or completely ignored. This kind of love essentially describes a situation where something is present but doesn't completely take over or disappear, maintaining a neutral position to survive the unpleasant outcome!

As a wise man stated once: “Don’t love too deeply until you’re sure that the other person loves you with the same depth, because the depth of your love today is the depth of your wound tomorrow when you lose her.” The question is, how could you lose someone who's not yours in the first place? 

What’s between us is a boat

On water, neither floats

Nor drowns out!

 

ما بيننا زورق

لا يطفو على الماءِ

ولا يغرق! 

Following the footsteps of the LOGOGRAMISM which I created in 1988, the pictograph symbol of the boat is the main focus of this artwork. The boat in Akkadian, my ancestors’ language, is called madgallau. This symbol was executed using different kinds of natural glue, mixed media, and vibrant colors to attract the viewers, the way gravity keeps us in orbit.

Every art lover can easily notice that the symbol of the boat looks like sails throughout the canvas by harnessing the force of the colors and texture instead of the wind on its sails. The texture and the many layers between the top and bottom composition play a magnificent role, especially when using soft and thin effects in the top in contrast to rutty and heavy brush strokes and palette knife effects in the bottom section. 

           In music, we use dynamics to describe how loud or soft a piece of music should be played. The same context can be used when dealing with dynamic colors and texture to move between the static surface and a dominant area full of energy resulting from passionate flash strokes.  

To create balance and at the same time have a panoramic sweet spot for placing the focus, i.e., the symbol of the boat, I used a special composition that I created years ago. I called it the "Diamond Ratio" which I used first in the late 70s in my artwork, "The Eternal Cold" purchased at the time by a friend of mine who was studying architecture and civil engineering, as well as my other painting, "Lady L’s Sorrow", which was also obtained by another known civil engineer. The entire scene is a mixture of abstract expressionism techniques and pictograph symbolism that is all about establishing a heartfelt connection with the viewer and conveying strong emotions and attitudes similar to starting a kind of love story!

 

Subject: A Boat that Won't Sink or Float

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

Measurements: 30 x 40 Inches

Date: Dec. 2024

Price: $35,000

Jihad

ART vs. Evil

An Art Manifesto to Right the Wrong

 The Mercenaries of Chaos

    Throughout the Middle East, One sees lands stolen from its natives with one clear exception, the State of Israel. This statement is supported by archeological, historical discoveries, and biblical data. 

    Ironically, the colonizers of the Middle East who used to have the might that they lost centuries ago become good at nothing but playing the victim role. From ISIS to Hamas, these fanatic militants and dark forces brought nothing but chaos, confusion, and complete disorder. 

    Artists are known for being freedom fighters and art is their weapon to debunk the colonizers, expose the colonization, and right the wrong. 

    Since October 7, 2023, I have been working on many of my new pieces that bring attention to the terrorist atrocities and humanitarian crisis, without distancing myself from my art path and Logogramisim style.

 

    Jihad is an art manifesto to stop the unjust (Jihadists' atrocities and war crimes). It is also an invitation to survive the nightmare of a world heading toward chaos and self-destruction from England to Sweden, Belgium, France, etc. This artwork depicts three major pictographic symbols: shakhu, the warthog herd (hostility and impurity), kur - three mountains (death, displacement, and chaos), and gu - the top right symbol (riverside and border). The artwork reflects the sadness and the hideous story of October 7^th in a specific and broader view, as well as the malicious colonization of Mesopotamia, Israel, and the rest of the civilized world by the ruthless and uncivilized Arab-Muslim nomads in the 7^th century.              

    It is worth noting that both natives of Israel and Mesopotamia have the same roots and culture, Gen.12:1 and Gen 15:7; thus, this artwork is the journey of sorrow and survival of these most ancient and unique natives. 

    From the scholarly artisan angle, choosing the emphasis technique gave the composition the needed space by using contrasting values, i.e., colors, sizes, or layers of texture, to avoid having a focal point. Also, using a combination of large and small elements and mixed media created a sense of equilibrium and harmony, and an utterly balanced surface. 

    To create a sense of flow and energy, the major visual elements of the warthog symbol are repeated with mixed colors and layers of heavy paint, as well as using the palette knife effect, which strengthens the shape and makes it quite pivotal. 

    Although playing with multiple textures is somewhat risky, using sand, fabric, and other media gave the painting the required touches of toughness vs. the softness of the vibrant background. This work is a clear example that art can create emotional foundations for a brighter future. Undoubtedly, Jihad, aka The Mercenaries of Chaos, is a strong moral manifesto of art vs. evil!

 

Subject: JIHAD

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

Measurements: 30 x 40 Inches

Date: Nov. 2024

Price: $30,000

 

One Year Since October 7th | Bring Them Home Now!

 

Act Against Anti-Semitism | Help Israel Defend Itself

Dear All,

Our Jewish Brothers and Sisters' ordeal in the second year of captivity is beyond imagination. Therefore, I urge you to have the courage to take up the fight against Hatred and Antisemitism.

Hatred is a self-destructive tool, and anti-Semitism is a shame.

"Evil triumphs when good men do nothing" Thus, having peace through strength is the answer, because, when the righteous ones are strong they can overcome evil.

I Praise the LORD that Israel is safe and prosperous. I will always stand with Israel and its IDF brave men and women who are fighting on behalf of all the oppressed indigenous people in the Middle East. In reality, this tiny but powerful state is fighting evil on behalf of all humanity.

The LORD said: I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-5

It seems that "Never Again" didn’t work, so if you believe in love and peace, never let your guard down again. Am Yisrael Chai. ~ Amer

Nova – You Can’t Kill Light

Light vs. Darkness 

Nova – You Can’t Kill Light 

Light and darkness can have many meanings in different contexts, including symbolic archetypes (hope vs. despair), scripture (truth and righteousness vs. falsehood and evil), and religion (salvation vs. slavery & loss). The best Biblical example is from John 1:5: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it".

What happened on October 7, 2023, at the Nova Music Festival in Israel’s Negev Desert, was pitch dark and pure evil that no decent human could accept or justify. As an artist, you can figuratively depict the horror of that indelible scene of the vicious massacre; but, art is not about imitation or making a documentary statement that opens deep wounds every time. Rather, we learn how to overcome the committed violence, dark, and evil through the path of light. Remember that a single candle, no matter how tiny, can defy the darkness.

Nova – You Can’t Kill Light is an attempt to continue my 2006 series Wounding the Dark based on my poem published in 2009 in World Literature Magazine, (P61),

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Using mixed media and multiple textures, supported with miniature visual effects to spread vitality in the overall dark, with austere colors mainly black and white, a small touch of yellow, and a red stroke has a huge impact in setting the floor (canvas) to present the theme.

The pictograph symbols for death, dark, and evil, "black moon" and "death", the three mountains against the central tiny sun and its light encountering the darkness, efficaciously seal the deal that no evil can escape the light. 

Nova – You Can’t Kill Light, is simply an invitation to overcome evil, destruction, and death by continuing to live, build, and prosper. It also defines the fact that despite all challenges, the people of Israel live "Am Yisrael Chai". 

Subject: Nova – You Can’t Kill Ligh

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

Measurements: 36 x 36 Inches

Date: August 2024

Price: $30,000

 

The Woman of My Dreams

The Woman of My Dreams

 

A dream is what you are

In the summer

and the utmost of snow

You are but a dream

Whether you come or go.

~ Amer

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest ever known literature from Mesopotamia. Dreams played a vital role in paving the legendary friends’ path toward glory. In ancient Mesopotamia Ninsoon and Mumud were famous goddesses specialized in interpreting dreams. Dreams also were crucial when King Nebuchadnezzar sought Danial’s help to interpret his dream. Everybody dreams, however, only artists and poets can reshape their dreams into artworks and poems. 

While the entire world is concerned about wars, unleashed highly mutagenic viruses, AI's future conflict with the human race, and other inhumane conflicts, besides climate change, as well as sea and air pollution, which Mother Earth can solve with or without human existence, however, I have a different vision and concern.

 

In my short voyage from birth to death which is nothing but a blink of an eye compared to the universe time I focus on love and who would light and share my path toward the light. There are many kinds of love, but Agape is spiritually the highest form of love, which is described in the New Testament, as the fatherly love of God.

            For me, as an artist and short-term passenger, my other half and life companion is a good loving woman. This woman is the foundation of my dreams which energize my body and mind with infinite visions and peaceful desires. For that woman from above, I offer this artwork, yesterday, today, and every day to my last breath.

The composition and technique are part of my interpretation of the Logogramism style and symbols of the Akkadian words šilu/šittu/ šunāti (dream-vision) to colors and visual elements in teal, red-orange, yellow, and purple. While the storyline of this artwork is simple. In life, we meet honest and foxy people who give us joy and pain as part of the love recipe. It is as if you can not appreciate the light if do not experience the dark. 

This work presents my true world, so enjoy the presence of the woman of my dreams who will always be the motivation of my heartbeats. Her name, kindness, and beauty will continue to come and go throughout the years as long as I breathe in and out. My dreams are my legacy and there is no legacy without a dream.

 

Subject: The Woman of My Dreams

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

Measurements: 36 x 36 Inches

Date: 2024

Price: $30,000

Enemy at the Gate

Hate Poisons the Soul

October 7^th 

Between my art studio and the so many war frontiers I have been at, I have experienced life and death firsthand. The outcome had me believe that hate poisons the soul, thus: “To better understand the dark side of the war is to live and let live.” This belief gives me the ultimate motivation to portray what is considered the endless conflict between good and evil and between light and dark.

The latest massacre that was committed by the creatures of the dark which took place in south Israel on October 7^th filled me with pain, anger, and grief. As an artist, I transferred all those genuine feelings on the canvas, to remind the entire world why saving lives is about humanity, not political-religious propaganda. 

Love and peace are quite understandable but nothing can justify victimizing innocent lives. In life or on canvas the good ones always search for love and peace while steering the inner peace path toward righteousness. ~ Isaiah 32:17

Like the rest of my Logographic artworks, the shape and the visual elements are the foundations of the work that echo my inner universe. However, what makes this work live and very captivating is the unique composition, that softly moves between the space, the mono-color, the pictograph symbols that represent (gate, enemy, fanaticism), and the use of the texture, i.e., the shape that represents (enemy) in different sizes and vivid black on black.

The dynamic between the intaglio impression (engraving) and relievo (relief) impression is what gives the multiple tones of sorrow a powerful presence. However, to make the entire work more vibrant yet quite stable, the symbol of the (enemy) was repeated in different sizes all over the surface while splitting the symbol of the (gate) in two and placing them on the two sides of the surface. Furthermore, two shapes depicting serpents, one with a smashed head and the second one accompanied by a star. The second two-part elements symbolize a crescent and a star. 

The work tightly and genuinely touches the hearts and minds of the viewers and releases an aura of serenity despite the horrible calamity, and that is because those who were inhumanely violated never gave up on the hope that is guaranteed in Psalm 23:1–6

 

Subject: Enemy at the Gate - Oct 7

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Hardboard-canvas

Measurements: Inside 28.5 x 37.5 Inches | Outside 36 x 45 Inches

Date: 2024

Price: $30,000

 

The Purest Love on Earth

 

Mother Ummi

 

My Mother Would Walk Through the Lava and Shattered Glass Carrying Me Smiling! … Mother’s Love is Unlimited and Unconditional. ~ Amer H. Fatuhi

In the Enûma Elish (The Babylonian Genesis/epic of creation), the mother goddess Tiamat bears the first generation of deities. She was the first ever known Mother. However, Ninhursag (Mama) is the goddess referred to as the creator of humankind. 

Women were worshiped in ancient times for being associated with childbirth and fertility. The pictograph symbol of the word mother was among the very first symbols used in Mesopotamia over seven millennia ago. Personally, I see the mother as the symbol of fertility, the homeland, and every good in life.

Since I was in middle school, I have painted many artworks of my mother connecting her to the homeland, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the date palm tree, the dove flying in an open sky like a free spirit, the morning pigeon standing at the roof fence singing by my bed (Ku ku o ukhti) in the early morning, and every good thing in life. Throughout the years I used different styles, materials, and techniques. However, in my latest artwork Dec. 7^th, My Mother / Ummi (in Akkadian) and (אמא שלי) imma shali in Hebrew, I focused on how to depict the ancient symbol in my modern art not as an inscription or a material of intent but as an expression and a window to the beauty of the soul.

The shape and the visual elements are just there as the foundations of the work which are derived from my Logogramisim style; but, what makes this work live and very captivating is the unique composition, the playing with the space, colors, the limited use of the austere texture, i.e., the top shape in different vivid red colors similar to the house roofing and the eightfold star. Moving between playing with green color gives the viewer the dynamic impression of the conflict between stability and instability, playing with two kinds of clear and rainy tile surfaces. The bottom brush strokes and the single heavy white stroke give the base of the work a lively expression. To make the entire work more vibrant yet quite stable, I added the bottom two small triangular shapes in light violet and yellow to match the two top triangular forms with similar colors. Anyone, whether an artist or a common viewer, will be easily attracted to the positivity and genuineness that touches the heart and ignites an invisible aura of beauty around it, and that is what a mother is all about.

 

Subject: Mother Ummi 

Technique: Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 

Measurements: 36 x 36 Inches 

Date: 2023 

Price: $30,000