OmanPride: Artist honours heroic deed of policeman with painting

More sports Tuesday 02/January/2018 18:27 PM
By: Times News Service
OmanPride: Artist honours heroic deed of policeman with painting

Salim Al Salami, a 31-year-old artist, has painted a picture of a policeman carrying a heavy stone away from people in honour of the heroism of an officer who died in a stabbing incident at a mall recently.
The policeman, Said Al Rawahi, died protecting shoppers at the City Centre mall. “Royal Oman Police mourns the death of one of its members today, [who was killed] while performing his duty,” the ROP had announced online.
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“I drew the painting to reflect the role of the police and their sacrifices in preserving people’s lives and the country’s security,” said Al Salami.
“I painted it on Saturday evening to commemorate the role of the heroic policeman,” the artist added. “The murdered policeman’s family deserves support from all of us; he sacrificed his life for our safety.”
Al Salami follows current events and is keen to express them in his paintings. He wishes to depict the message of peace and development in his paintings.
“Art for all — the artist has to reflect the audience’s issues in his paintings, and in each painting, I challenge myself to get the best sense and meaning in my work,” Al Salami emphasised.
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The painting of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos titled, “Go ahead our Leader” is one of the most famous paintings created by Al Salami. The painting shows His Majesty the Sultan atop a horse pulling a ship to safety on a beach with peace doves flying around it.
The painting was drawn to mark the 48th National Day. “The idea took me a whole week [to flesh out], and I completed drawing it in one day in acrylic colours,” the painter revealed.
“People’s appreciation of my paintings is the real honour for my work.” Al Salami’s paintings combine the realistic, natural and surreal schools and are creative. “I started painting at an early age. The government and private institutions supported me in improving my art and representing the Sultanate at international exhibitions. Also, local events played a major role in the development of my artistic talent,” the painter stressed.
Al Salami won the first position in a wildlife competition in Oman. He has participated in a number of exhibitions in the UK, Japan, Tunisia, Jordan, and the UAE.