Ruh al-Alam

Ruh al-'Alam (Arabic: روح العالم; Bengali: রুহ আ্ল-আলাম; born 1981) is a British Islamic artist, he creates mainly works of Islamic carrigraphy, and is the founder of Visual Dhikr, which is a a Islamic calligraphic artwork project.

Biography

Ruh al-'Alam was born in London on 1981, and was brought up in Wapping, East London. He is of Bangladeshi descent, his parents immigrated from Sylhet, Bangladesh during the 1960s. Ruh started to be interested in Art since his childhood, who had fascination with inventing and drawing. He attended the Harry Gosling Primary School and Stepney Green School for Boys, during his years in education including college and university, he took every opportunity of learning art, he had a passion for graphic design which led to the interest of calligraphy, through the appreciation of Typography and Islamic Art.

The artist currently still resides in London, and is married to an Egyptian artist, Iythar. His languages include, English, Bengali (Sylheti), and Arabic (including Egyptian Arabic). He is a Sunni Muslim and is a prominent artist in the British Muslim community. On 2000, Alam studied A-levels at Leyton Sixth Form college in Fine Art, Graphic Design and Media. From 2000 to 2003, he studied at the Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design and he graduated in illustration and graphic design. He then studied at the Arabic Calligraphy (Thuluth, Kufic and Diwani) in Egypt from 2004 to 2006, but remains a student of calligraphy.

Artwork

Ruh works under the title of "Visual Dhikr", which means visual remembrance, Dhikr in Arabic means the remembrance of God. Ruh is known to be the first person to have coined the term 'Visual Dhikr', which technically does not exist in the Islamic or Muslim terminology. He created the term in the year 2000, however he officially launched the public website in 2003 with the same title and concept, which is now a trade marked name.

His work involves a spiritual element in remembrance of God and his Creation (contemplation). This is often depicted in calligraphic text; which are reflective of the message. Inspiration is drawn from the religious, cultural, spiritual literature and poetry of the Islamic world. Often the concept of a piece would revolve around a word or single invocation in Arabic, illuminated and focused, to let the viewer fully engage with its meaning. The artwork isn’t simply a visual piece, rather it is piece of literature combined, where the viewer must read (or at least understand) the text to get the context of the piece.

Inspired by traditional calligraphy, the work involves the usage of his own Arabic scripts, with a contemporary graphic design influence; therefore many of the pieces go through a digital process at some stage. His unique mixed media approach is an attempt to tackle the stigma associated with digital art. The work is often displayed as large printed canvases, screen prints or projections. The messages in his work combine the global concepts of unity, peace and love, a tradition that is deeply rooted in Islamic literature and thought. It aims to encourage the viewer to think, remember and contemplate on their own lives and situation and then be inspired to change.

The early works of Ruh al-'Alam, at the Central St Martins College of Art & Design, included artworks of cartoons which was concerned about health such as drugs or smoking, including about western culture, and also Palestine. He comes from a traditional graphic design, photography and illustration background. Ruh al-'Alam has also worked on video and Motion FX projects, his most recent piece was about the project Visual Dhikr.

In 2006, he has been commissioned by Sony BMG to work on the Danish group 'Outlandish', album cover art, also by Sony to contribute to an exhibition with the Sony PSP hand-held device. In 2007 he was Commissioned by the KM Holding Group for Tamani Hotels, Dubai.

He has exhibited in numerous other places (UK and abroad) with different types of work; ranging from illustration, fine art, photography, graphic design and film. In particular in 2004, he has held many exhibitions which included at the Multi Faith Week in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on October, on February he has held at the Cambridge University, King's University, and at the Kufa Gallery. An exhibitions of 'Dhikhrullah' (Ruh al-'Alam, Abu Ta-Ha, Mohammed Ali, Vaseem Mohammed, Raadhiyah Bint-Safar and Ayesha Ahmad) were held at the Whitechapel Centre from 28 March to 3 April.

Recognition

Ruh's rise to prominence within the Muslim community comes mainly through his website presence and contributions to charity auctions. He is considered by some as one of the rising Muslim artists that have helped shape development in British contemporary Islamic art. Recent appearances have been on Press TV on a show hosting the topic Faith and Art. He has also been recognised and featured in the British Foreign Office's Islam in Britain publication (circa 2005).

Arabesque Ruh's work is featured in an Arabesque: Graphic Design from the Arab World and Persia

Emel Magazine Ruh al-'Alam was the cover story in Emel Magazine

Digital Creative Arts Magazine - 'Day in the Life of...' feature on Ruh al-Alam

Guardian Mentioned in " The biggest star in the Middle East is a Brit" The Guardian, Thursday April 27, 2006

Unity Magazine Unity Magazine Article Feature

Gaining Art Inspiration from Islam British Satellite News Feature

Press TV Guest on the NEXUS show discussing Islamic Art & Design

Elan Magazine, Summer 2008 Feature on Visual Dhikr

Elaph, Arabic Online Publication Feature on Ruh & Iythar

Portfolio.com Quoted on Dubai art scene

Visual Dhikr Official Website of the artist

MCB Interview by MCBDirect

Aaminah Hernandez Interview Aaminah Hernández artist interview

Sony PSP Sony PSP Exhibition

Islamic Men's Casual Wear by Visual Dhikr