Ramadan
20
10
08
By Nick Meyer
The Arab American News
T
here are thousands upon thousands
of technically skilled artists and
painters, but in the world of fine art,
it's the artist's individual touch that sepa-
rates him or her from the rest of the pack.
It was the unique style and background
of Italian painter Ali Hassoun along with
his talent and years of study that allowed
him to be chosen for perhaps his most pres-
tigious assignment to date this past Octo-
ber, as representatives from Palio, Italy's
most sacred and tradition-rich horse race,
chose him to paint
its traditional prize,
a banner of the
same name.
The Lebanese-
born Hassoun was
the first Muslim
painter to be cho-
sen to paint the
banner for the race
and accompanying
festival, both of
which are heavily
steeped in Chris-
tian traditions and
dedicated to the
Virgin Mary.
But controversy broke out in the area
from conservative Christians when Has-
soun's version of the banner was unveiled
to reveal its placement of Islamic imagery
and words.
Hassoun's version of the banner, which
is 250 centimeters in height and 80 cen-
timeters in length, followed the tradition of
painting the Virgin Mary on the top of the
Palio, but he added the unique touch of in-
cluding the title of the 19th chapter of the
Qur'an above her, as the chapter is dedi-
cated to her. On her crown in the painting
are the symbols of the three Abrahamic re-
ligions: the crescent symbolizing Islam on
the left, the Christian cross in the middle,
and the Star of David representing Judaism
on the right.
Mary's face was also inspired by Has-
soun's Christian wife of Italian descent.
Saint George, another traditionally painted
figure, is seen wearing a kaffiyeh in Has-
soun's version of the Palio as well. On the
bottomof the banner are the symbols of the
various contradas, or districts, that com-
peted in the race.
Hassoun, age 46, who has lived in Italy
since 1982, said that his version of the Palio
banner was meant to promote commonal-
ity and understanding among the three
prominent religions.
"Myway of thinking and myway of mak-
ing art indeed gave me the vision to do the
Palio this way," Hassoun said in a phone in-
terview. "I believe we of the different reli-
gions have the same humanity and believe
in the same God."
Hassoun believes that this is an impor-
tant time in human history as tensions be-
tween the three religions continue to fester
and misunderstanding of many religions,
particularly Islam, has continued to create
rifts.
Controversies over mosque projects in
the country have popped up in recent years,
especially in the north according to Has-
soun, which he says is less progressive.
But Hassoun believes that art is one way
to bridge the gap of cultural understanding.
"I think that artists see things before they
happen, they see history for us. It's away for
people to learn more about their vision of
humanity and I think that this moment in
our history is so important to do some new
path to be nearer and closer to each other."
Hassoun said he took the controversy
surrounding the Palio, which was blessed
in the Church of St. Mary of Provenzano
prior to the race according to tradition, in
stride.
"I think it's good that the painting made
this controversy because people need some
signs to speak to each other, and now we
saw bad signs of not accepting so now
artists are giving me the possibility to talk
to them and tell something new," he said.
Hassoun is hopeful that the Palio con-
troversy is one step toward a more enlight-
ened future in regards to the discussion
about Islam in Italy and other issues.
"This is the first time in the very impor-
tant city of Siena and Italian history that
they called an artist like me, a Muslim
artist, and accepted myway of thinking," he
said.
"It gave me a sign of civilization that this
controversy is going to help in some way to
make new levels of conscience among the
people."
Lebanese Muslim
painter's artistic
vision: Religious
harmony in Italy
Hassoun's version of the famous Palio banner features a Qu'ranic title.
"This is the
first time in
the very im-
portant city of
Siena and Ital-
ian history that
they called an
artist like me,
a Muslim
artist, and ac-
cepted my way
of thinking."
