Biography and Statement:

Hafeez is a painter and a graphic artist who lives in New York. He recently completed a series of 99 paintings depicting the names of Allah. This is his contribution to making this a better world after 9-11.

Quote from Allama Iqbal the famous poet:
“All that I can say is that I look upon Art as Subservient to life and personality. I expressed this view as far back as 1914 in my Asrar-i-Khudi, and twelve years later in the poem of Zubur-i- Ajam, wherein I have tried to picture the soul movement of the ideal artist in whom love reveals itself as a unity of Beauty and Power.
The spiritual health of a people largely depends on the kind of inspiration which their poet and artists receive.
But inspiration is not a matter of choice. It is a gift of which cannot be critically judged by the recipient before accepting it.” He further wrote: “The artist who is blessing to mankind defy life. He is an associate of God and feels the contact of time and eternity in his soul. “Mohammed Iqbal, Lahore, 21st July 1928. (Poet, Great Thinker and enlightened Soul)

My Work Represent 4 Subjects:
Human Feelings, autumn, Flowers and 99 Names of God.
The inspiration right from nature and imagination, no photographs or any other references used.
(Except the God’s names where I use the original calligraphic text for reference and for writing
the accurate words without making any alphabetical mistake in Arabic)

Figures:
This is my first work before moving on to other subject, it was also part of my thesis for BFA finals, it reflect the human suppress feelings, the most inner feelings, which confronting the hidden faces, desires, longing and loneliness, It may provoke and confront other feelings.
(some of these are 4 ft. by 4 ft. on canvas)

Autumn:
These painting are the off shot of my figure work, and other way to outlet the similar feelings from figure to divert into autumn. The most beautiful season, during this time the colors and mood are so vivid and beautiful, it represent the melancholy and deep emotion, I find a leaf in autumn just like a living being,

Flowers:
After Autumn I couldn’t hold myself for not observing the spring, overtime I see a new bloom to paint from dogwood to magnolia. They reflect the joy after winter, if you observe it look like they are all coming to the ground before the leaves and thanking the God after the cold bitter winter.

99 Names of God:
These 99 paintings reflects the name of God in arabic, each name has universal meanings,
These names are sacred and holy and beyond any religion. I use traditional calligraphy for reference and to be accurate with spelling and rest with inspiration and paint, I wanted to paint each one as unique yet consistent to other and reflect the beauty of his name. I am still not sure if I achieve what I wanted to paint, rest is up to you, how they make an effect on you.
(these are all done in oil on canvas 16 x 16 inches)

“Come, come again, whoever you are, come!
Heathen, fire worshippers or idolatrous, come!
Come even if you broke your penitence a hundred times,
Ours is the portal of hope, come as you are.”

by: Mevlana Jalauddin Rumi