South African Artist Farook Mohammed
Visual Artist Profile : Farook Mohammed
Farook Mohammed is the Resident Artist of the
Athenaeum, a pristine multipurpose venue meant for Arts, Culture and Heritage
situated in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is listed on the
Nelson Mandela Bay Artist Database and comes from a very diverse family
background and have family in nearly every part of the world. Born and raised
in the beautiful Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Eastern Cape; Farook has traveled
around the country and made home of our other noted and beautifully vibrant
cities such as Johannesburg and Durban but is now back in his hometown. An
Artist by nature but also a collector of rarities and other valuables, Farook’s
work is influenced by world history, his own diverse family background “spanning continents”, and is also influenced
by his physical surroundings and global events affecting us all (some of his
works are a bit controversial and it adds some fun and spice for Art collectors
who buy his works with the aim of making a buck or two or simply because they
love and appreciate his creative expression), it’s all very unique, always
tells a story and looks like the kind of artwork you’d usually find in an old
money home. Farook has taken part in National and International Art
competitions such as the Mzansi Art Gallery Competition & Exhibition 2021,
The 2021 New Now Emerging Artist Competition hosted by Galerie NOKO, sponsored
by VANSA [Visual Artist Network of South Africa], L’atelier [Continental,
Sponsored by ABSA Bank] and Climanosco (Switzerland) for Art And Science on the
topic of Global Warming and Rising Water Levels & State of The Art Gallery
Competition on the same theme of Global Warming.
CONTACT THE ARTIST:
Contact Number: +27-786-697-659
Email: afroarabianempire@gmail.com
SaatchiArt https://Saatchiart.com/AfroArabianEmpire
Facebook Profile https://Facebook.com/farook.mohammed.334/
Blog https://AfroArabianEmpire.bolgspot.com
Leadership
With the global Covid19 Pandemic
Farook stepped up taking charge in an effort to help his fellow Artists
[Nationally].
The Eastern Cape has an
alarming 49% Unemployment Rate, the closing of venues due to heavy lockdowns
meant a solid hard time for Artists everywhere and the Creative Arts Industry
took the hardest hit of all as they barely ever received any Relief Funding.
Farook Mohammed is spearheading
the Athenaeum’s Open Call Exhibition leading to a Grand Exhibition Event. A
call and opportunity for Visual Artists to submit their Artworks for exhibition
free of charge. Farook aims to draw investors from all over the world for an
Art Feast of note. The Athenaeum is well known for the Performing Arts as it
has a well-known Theatre but also many gallery spaces. The Grand Exhibition
event is where the top 50 Artists will be selected as the best of the best out
of the Artworks received for the open call and Artists will receive recognition
as such for the quality of their work. Artists will also receive a biannual
inspiration session to ready themselves for the new market ahead in a
post-covid world.
Redirects to: The Athenaeum (South Africa) - Wikipedia
Farook is also pushing to
realize the Call of Artists in Nelson Mandela Bay and wider Eastern Cape Region
to have its first ever NMB Artist Spring Festival which includes all genres
[performing and visual arts]. But due to lockdown and closure of events this
effort has been suspended for the year 2022. Farook has also been nominated for
the MAMA2021 [Mzansi Arts and Music Awards] where voting takes place on 1 May
2021 to 31 July 2021
Controversies or Rather
Creative Highlights
Farook is no silent by-sitter
and has created Artworks that rocks some historic narratives to the core by
shedding light on the truth.
Note: All copyrights are
retained by the artist, and this means that the artwork cannot be reproduced
without consent from the artist.
Afrikaaner Moslem Gemeente,
Currently Exhibited: @ [The Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay]
Story
behind Painting: Inspired by the Artist’s very own diverse family history and
background; bringing a spin on historic narratives by grabbing on actual
history from the past linking Africa, Europe and Arabia. Afrikaans a fairly new
language was invented by Native South Africans, Malay-Indoneasian-Arabs (A.K.A
Cape Malays) and Europeans (Dutch Settlers) collectively, the language was
first written and preserved in Arabic Calligraphy; and the first books written
in Afrikaans are mostly Islamic religious in nature and are kept at the Cape
Town Museum of Heritage and Culture. When looking at the actual history of
South Africa’s Afrikaner population we will find that it is not just made up of
Europeans but racially mixed Europeans prior to arrival in South Africa. Afrikaners
are a mixture of intermarried peoples and historic archives proves this fact,
further when one delves into the European history of the settler communities;
the Islamic faith itself was not foreign as many among the Dutch settlers were
European Muslims when we compare the timeframe of Islam in both Europe and
Africa. Same can be said of the latter British/Victorian settlers who did not
adopt the Afrikaans language yet were racially mixed prior to arriving in South
Africa. Majority of the European settler communities who migrated to South
Africa fled religious persecution. South Africa’s first elected black
politician [1904] Dr. Abdullah Abdurahmaan was married to a European Woman,
studied at the University of Glasgow and Sacks. He met Gandhi in 1909. He
fought hard on the political battlefield for the inclusion of South Africa’s
native black community in the political, socio-economic future of the country.
There also exists documented lists of European Settlers who married amongst
Native South Africans and the Cape Malays, majority of whom are the forefathers
of South Africa’s White Afrikaner Community. This Artwork is factual stand
against a political racist past invented in the 18th and 19th
Century with a multitude of lies and false propaganda to divide a people who
naturally inclined towards unity.
Story of Love Birds, Exhibited: Yes [At Galerie
NOKO & At The Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay]
Pen on Prepped-Cardboard: Width 21cm x Length 30cm (Framed)| Price – R25,000 | Ref Code : AAEF2020COMPLBPOCB
Story behind
Painting: An expression of Afro-Arabian diversity, it depicts a husband (Arab)
and his beautiful pregnant wife (African) draped in images of the Artists very
own diverse family history and background. The Artist considers himself an
AfroEuRabian; combining African, European and Arabian Cultures in the most
beautiful way. In it we can find many hints of historic stories scattered
about. The Artwork keeps one in wonder and eyes constantly searching for
something you may have missed in the hidden stories that unfold. This is
Patriotism on a global scale.
Spear Shield Crown, Exhibited: Yes [The Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay]
Story behind
Painting: The Pan-African and Arabian, Dream are both depicted in Symbols of
Power, Honor and Greatness in a colorful Artistic Expression. The comparative
beliefs, cultures and customs of Africa and Arabia are not just similar but
nearly identical. Once again another beautiful expression of that unity, of
Ubuntu and Ukhuwa (African and Arab Terms for Humanness, Brotherhood and Unity)
Umkhonto We Afrika, Exhibited: Yes [The Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay]
Story behind Painting: An expression of Afro-Arabian diversity, it depicts a husband (Arab) holding his shield and his beautiful pregnant wife (African) handing him his spear and knobbed stick with a beautiful Mosque in the background.
Flowers in Vase Imagined, Exhibited: Yes [The Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay]
Story behind Painting:
Made in a style of antiquity with a modern twist, created purely from the
Artist’s imagination. It has a seemingly 3d feel to it as you look at the
physical painting from different angles. The Artist describes it as “forged
from the dream world”.
Grand Sheik Al Afriqi, Exhibited: Yes [The
Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay]
Oil on Board: Width 45cm x Length 76cm (Framed 82x50)| Price – R137,000 | Ref Code : AAEF2020COMPTGSAAOOB
Story behind
Painting: It depicts the image of an Afro-Arabian Leader; considered the
Religious and Spiritual Leader of the African Continent. It is made in a style
of antiquity as those of old master artworks but with a modern twist.
Enchanted Afro-Arab Vase-Lamp, Exhibited: Yes
[The Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay]
Oil on Board: Width 24cm x Length 67 (Framed 30x70)| Price – R65,600 | Ref Code : AAEF2020FREEAAVLOOB
Story behind
Painting: A magical piece of work in a dash of color; the Afro-Arab vase-lamp
has a prehistoric feel to it that joins in with magical times. This artwork is
a beautiful expression of cultural unity. It also represents the leaving of the
eternal soul from the mortal body of man.
Affter
World War Three, Currently Exhibited: @ [The Athenaeum: Nelson Mandela Bay];
set for planned Touring Exhibit.
Oil on Board: Width 80cm x Length 60cm (Framed 85x65)| Price – R192,000 | Ref Code : AAEF2020FREAWWTOOB
Story behind Painting: Probably
one of the boldest statements of modern history is depicted in this Artwork;
The following tells the story- “Art is
a medium of expression; this work represents the collective psyche of many
nations seeking historic and social justice. It is a fictional, futuristic
looking piece of Artwork which, on the losing side depicts images of figures
ranging from the Demented Crusades, Evil Spanish Inquisition, Barbaric North
Atlantic Slave Trade, the Heart Breaking Colonial Era, the Insanity of World
War One and Two, The Cold War, and the Stupidity of Nationalistic Racism etc…
on a battlefield with a burning Cathedral in the background. On the victorious
side of the battlefield it depicts figures from many nations such as Africans,
Native Americans, Arabs and Asians before a Towering Mosque rising in its
splendor with light emitting from it. It’s a counter expression against the
norm of what is usually depicted on Artworks from the 18th and 19th Century. A
time where historic narratives were based on propaganda invented to suppress
others and destroy people’s identity, culture and factual history. It yells out
“We exist, our cultures exist, our nations exist, and our diverse identities
exist and always will. We are Not third world peoples, Not a second class
either, all men are equal but the only difference in how man should be ranked
is by his character, not his color or geographical location” The Art of the
written word (A powerful tool) was used for injustice and this visual artwork
is meant to strike a balance. Black Lives Matter, Native American Lives Matter,
Arab Lives Matter, Asian Lives Matter, All Lives Matter.” The very words from the Artist himself in describing
this painting; a breathtaking moment in itself. We are well aware of how Art
was used for Psyops (Propaganda Leaflets) dropped from planes over enemy
territories [Enemy being either side of World War 1&2] aimed at perception
management of peoples.
Interviews and Media Features
Additional Listings
Artprice.com : World Leader in Art Market Information
https://www.artprice.com/artist/983874/farook-mohammed/biography
Talenthouse.com :
https://www.talenthouse.com/farook-mohammed
New Age Artistry:
https://newageartistry.co.za/my-profile/?uid=37
Building on the History of the Athenaeum – Resident
Artist Farook Mohammed “The aim is to keep this national
monument as a place for Arts, Culture and Heritage.”
Contact Number: +27-786-697-659
Email:
afroarabianempire@gmail.com
SaatchiArt https://Saatchiart.com/AfroArabianEmpire
Facebook Profile https://Facebook.com/farook.mohammed.334/
Blog https://AfroArabianEmpire.bolgspot.com
