Allahu Akbar

Short film by Usama Alshaibi
5:17 minutes

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.
-Usama Alshaibi

"...shimmying geometries celebrate the liberation from image making." -From Aniconism to Bliss: Media art shows its Islamic roots, Pacific Cinematheque,Vancouver

"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." -Fred Camper, recommended program, Chicago Reader