A-ARTs: With Osinowo's 'Alhamdulillahi Goma-Goma', art goes gratitude

' Muhammad - Messenger of Mercy's (mixed media, 47X47, dated 2023) by ADK-Osinowo

ART of spiritual fruits takes over the creative space of Abuja as artist, Ridwan ADK-Osinowo opens his solo art exhibition of painting, mixed media and wood routing.

The exhibition of Islamic art titled Alhamdulillahi Goma-Goma, opens Tuesday 11, ending Thursday 13, February, 2025 at Art Pavilion, Opposite Radio House, Beside Abuja ICC, Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja. For the first day, the artist said opening ceremony will be strictly by Invitation for special guests only, from 2:00pm. However, the exhibition pavilion will be open to the general public including students on 2nd day and 3rd day (12th and 13th February) from 9am to 6pm daily.

The theme of the exhibition took roots from two languages as Alhamdulillah in Arabic means All praise be to Allah, while Goma in Hausa is 10! The artist explained that a literal meaning of Alhamdulillah Goma is ‘Praise be to Allah 10 times’ He noted that the phrase is a household statement that is uttered daily after performing each of the five obligatory prayers (salawat), most especially among Muslim faithful from the northern part of Nigeria.

ADK-Osinowo said that the noble practice of repeating Alhamdulillah 10 times (among other adhkar – remembrance of Allah) after every obligatory salat (prayer) is an emphatic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that every Muslim should emulate. He advised that "we will be fine with full of fulfillments if we fill our space with praise in appreciation of our Lord. The best prayer according to the Messenger of Allah is Alhamdulillah, as it unlocks abundant blessings."

According to the artist, the exhibition seeks to sensitize the Muslim world and general public, most especially lovers of aesthetics, on great gains of appreciating the Lord of the universe for His wonders. He argued that it takes a creative mind, driven by divine guidance to actually identify a grace as great and worth praising Almighty Allah for. This makes appreciating divine grace an art that everyone needs to embrace. Thus, I have painstakingly rendered some thoughtful concepts into captivating colours and forms that are capable of arousing our sense of praise and appreciation.

The art works, mostly expressed in Arabic calligraphy and paintings in 2D and 3D were composed of aluminium composite panel (ACP), perspex, vinyl, HDF board and sublimation plate, oil on canvas, led etc. Every piece on display at this art exhibition is a masterpiece that everyone deserves to own as an art of appreciation. All praise is due to the Lord of creativity and gratitude. Alhamdulillah for this noble show.

In his Artist Statement for the exhibition, ADK-Osinowo noted that a critical examination of would disclose an actual missing key to the peaceful life that people naturally seek. He disclosed that the real missing key is people's failure to identify Allah’s inestimable blessings we constantly enjoy as real blessings for which we owe Him unceasing praise as an expression of our appreciation.

"The appreciation in this context extends beyond the descriptions and prescriptions of gratitude defined within secular boundaries," ADK-Osinowo explained in this Artist Statement. "Rather, it emanates from directing one’s ultimate praise to Allah, the Almighty, the most Merciful and Generous, the One who grants us the gift of life, sustenance, and most of all, His guidance. To praise Allah for His grace is a religious obligation and therefore prime to our purpose of existence. Alhamdulillah!"

Excerpts from ADK-Osinowo's Artist Statement;

"The first human being, Prophet Adam, first stood as a statue after completion of his creation with mud by the Supreme Fashioner. Remarkably, his inaugural statement when Allah breathed life into his sculptural stature was Alhamdulillah sequel to sneezing. The scene was authentically reported in a hadith thus:

"The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “When Allah created Adam, He breathed the soul into him, then he sneezed and said: “Alhamdulillah! (i.e. All praise [and gratitude] is due to Allah)’. So he praised Allah by His permission. Then His Lord said to him: ‘May Allah have mercy upon you, O Adam…’”

"A huge handout for us from that hadith is Allah’s instant shower of His mercy on Adam for praising his Lord in appreciation of gift of life and ability to sneeze. It is apt to note that a Muslim who sneezes is expected to praise Allah by saying Alhamdulillah (All praise be to Allah) and any Muslim around should say to him Yar-hamukallah (May Allah bestow His mercy on you). Imagine the goodness that comes with saying Alhamdulillah one time only for just sneezing!"

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