German artist’s paintings draw on Islam, Christianity

"One cannot serve both God and money

The story of Joseph’s dream that the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to him, a story related both in the Quran and in the Bible, is depicted by German artist Berno Heitmann in his painting of 11 planets and the sun and moon bending down to the land. The painting is one of 30 paintings on display until July 5 in an exhibition titled Every Man Has a Dream at the Bab al-Yemen Gallery in Sana’a. And this painting, which has meaning for both Muslims and Christians, suggests that Heitmann is perhaps seeking with his work to visually create harmony between the two religions.

“I painted eleven stars, the sun and the moon in this painting, which is a story about Joseph and his achieved dream,” said Heitmann. “The story is found in the Quran as it exists in the Bible, like other stories.” Heitmann read the Quran in the German language for three weeks, seeking the commonalities between the Quran and the Bible. Heitmann is a Christian, whose holy book is the Bible. He tried to translate a number of concepts from Quranic verses in his paintings, using a language of painting and lines. Heitmann’s paintings were inspired by stories of prophets, such as Joseph, and various religious wisdoms. He added lines to his paintings, both in Arabic and in English. 

“You cannot serve both God and money,” said Heitmann on one of his paintings, taking a quote from Caesar.  Heitmann studied Arabic calligraphy, including Kufic, Diwani and Persian handwritings.  “I think Arabic calligraphies are very beautiful,” he said. “Though I write in English, I think Arabic is more beautiful and could make the painting more beautiful and effective.” “Many people are asking me why am I writing on my paintings, but I am telling them that this is my own style. Beside that, I like the Arabic calligraphy.” 

Dr. Amnah al-Nasiri, an artist, expressed surprise at what she described as Sufism philosophy included in Heitmann’s paintings. “Such Sufism usually stems from the religious culture of the artist, whatever this religion is,” she said. “Either Islam, Judaism or Christianity, they all could tell religious ideas.” Al-Nasiri believes that Heitmann lives a state of spiritual purity, due to his living in Yemeni places and regions like Hajja, where he works. This state enables him to ponder on the relationship between human beings and God, she said. Heitmann tends to use very pure and simple colors, said al-Nasiri.

Sacrifice

“They are fresh colors, which means that they are not complicated and mixed.”   These paintings represent a mix of European and Eastern culture in general and Yemeni culture in particular,” said Mohammed al-Muflahi, Minister of Culture. “This mixture often reflects the philosophical and spiritual side of the human identity, and the relationship between nature and the human being. Heitmann’s paintings reflect the effects of the Islamic and Yemeni culture he lived in during his existence in Yemen, and we are very happy when we open such an exhibition.

“The presence of a German artist in this place shows the openness of our country, and its international relationship with the world countries, and acceptance of the others. These are all Yemeni features known and characterized by love, cooperation and partnership with others.  Heitmann’s paintings attempt to illustrate the relationship between the Creator and creation,” said al-Muflahi.  The exhibition alludes to the meanings and connotation of various human dreams, he said. 

Art afficionados and friends of the artist came to Heitmann’s exhibition in Sana’a.

Many of Heitmann’s paintings were inspired through reading of the Quran in German, said Amin al-Mughalles, curator of the Bab al-Yemen Gallery.  Ali Ahmed, an artist, thinks that using quotes with the drawings gives more declarative emphasis to the painting. “If the drawing is let without lines or declarations, it would be meaningless. The paintings are overcome by advertisements, just like posters.”   Heitmann considers visual arts to be a common language for all people of different nationalities and religions. “Yemenis understand my paintings as well as Germans, Americans, Chinese and Indians,” he said.

“The plastic arts simply come to create a common language for all people to be able to communicate with each other.” Born in Hamburg in 1969, Heitmann is a German lawyer. However, he now works as a representative for a non-governmental organization in Yemen. He has lived in Hajja for the past year. Heitmann has participated in several exhibitions, including exhibitions in Berlin, Germany in 2000; Hanover, Germany in 2003; Amman, Jordan in 2004, and in Sana’a and Hajja in 2006. The school of art that influences Heitmann is the Expressive school, which is a modern school dependent upon symbolism and color. He wrote an Arabic statement under each painting to convey the message of his works.

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