ALLAHU AKBAR

director, digital animation: Usama Alshaibi

Allahu Akbar is based on ancient Islamic Allover patterns that are used for various artistic ornamentation in Arab culture. In Islam it is forbidden to have depiction's of God or the Prophet. Complex geometrical patterns are used to praise the perfection of God in nature. My Father came to visit me from the Middle East and brought me a book of these hand drawn Islamic patterns. These beautiful and intricate designs were on this brown newsprint, it looked like a book a craft-person would use, almost like a blueprint. I took these images, scanned them, cleaned them up and started animating them. I began to spin and move these Allover patterns in post-editing motion tools. New images emerged and created an entirely different way of viewing these traditionally static designs. Allahu Akbar attempts to come closer to that ultimate beauty and mystery which is God.

"In Allahu Akbar, the US based filmmaker Usama Alshaibi has created joyful and playful animations out of the traditional geometric themes of Islamic art. These complex geometries are rendered in simple black and white, and then superimposed and spun around their central axis, in a close rhythmic relationship with the lively soundtrack of traditional and popular Iraqi music. The result is a giddy playfulness, reminiscent of psychedelic Pop Art, and far removed from the contemplative quiet I normally associate with Mosques and the inner courtyards of traditional Arab architecture. The video also recalls the films of Harry Smith. My only complaint is that, for a person like me who really loves this music, I could have watched a much longer film which used at least one complete musical selection!"-RESISTANCE(S) DVD Review by David Finkelstein (Film Threat 2006)

"Usama Alshaibi's Allahu Akbar, whose hypnotic geometrical patterns seem inspired by Islamic art but whose bouncy sound track rebukes ultraorthodox Islam's prohibition of sensual pleasures, including music." (Fred Camper) recommended program-Chicago Reader (Nov.21, 2003)

Allahu Akbar is also available on 'RESISTANCE[S]: Experimental films from the Middle East and North Africa and is on a global tour to promote the DVD. For more information go to: lowave.com

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• allah
• akbar
• alshaibi
• usama
• animation
• arab
• arabic
• patterns
• islam

[jamiee225]

guys i have muslim friends why do you hate an entire religion just because of a few extremists. there have been more than a few incidents involving christian terrorists

[AllahMusicFactory]

THIS IS A BRAINWASHING VIDEO!!!!!

[clodoaldoljr]

Beautiful! Our lives are all about patterns, so, how come you look to the sky and see clouds forming patterns exactly like a sandy beach? Music is essentially rhythm, the frequencies of the tones are made of regular vibrations... Looking at an Arabic pattern makes me wonder the amazing mathematics involved and is a kind of visual song.

[SatoriWins]

@cakes37 They don't kill because the Quran tells them to. The Islam extremists usually kill because our evil countries go to their countries, kill their leaders, take billions of dollars out of the country every year and kill the civilians in airstrikes that ironically we state are happening to protect them.

[Idiotsaker]

if god created everything ,does that mean he created himself? i wonder how that worked out

[tablaui]

لايجوز الاذان و الطبل

[cakes37]

some religious people are fine guys. Its just anybody who kills in the name of any god does not deserve to be on this planet.

.....also horrible music

[AndersBehring]

I hope all muslims die except their daughters because we will rape them until they die.

[MichaelLevyVt]

This is beautiful in all respects. Thank you for posting this.

[InevitableEnigma]

@jamiee225 Agreed. Another great example: Americans are fat but I don't look at the whole entire population as morbidly obese people. American's are also known for boundless stupidity but I don't see them as all retards.

[TheRedCoke]

Allahu Akbar *pulls string*

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