Description: “Upon the Spheres’ Lips” relates to the spiritual Proximity the soul journeys through when we allow it to evolve in Surrender. Here, the movements of the Spheres are considered as the ultimate reflection of Surrender/Islam; therefore striving to mirror their harmony with the Divine Law introduces the human soul to great beauty. This painting took form from this poem below of the same title. I immensely enjoyed painting this piece, its language energy was motherly and gentle. I must say that it is one of my favorite pieces!

~ Upon the Spheres’ Lips ~

Bismillah,
I am at my best
when I lay at your feet,
rolling and rolling within
in the way no one sees
but you.

Lost in this state,
language makes no sense
and the soul’s nakedness
glides by to deepen us
at the thought of staying
right there,
of all our being,
below you.

Then a voice says:
this is love knocking
from inside, open up
and stay wide until
the prophets (as) walk
by, ecstatically chanting
la ilaha illa Allah!

At this, joyful sobbs
inundate the atmosphere
and I become a kiss
laid upon the Spheres’ lips.

2007 copyrights Aida Toure.

Description: This painting represents the quintessential Africa, from ancient times until now. It’s a celebration of the Motherland’s monumental contributions to civilization that have been deliberately omitted from history books. This piece defeats the label of “dark continent” given to Africa, a continent whose spiritual and material resources continue to support the prosperity of western societies around the globe. “The Luminous, The Coveted” symbolizes the uncelebrated evolutionary flux that has molded the global spiritual, mathematical, artistic, scientific genius for centuries.

Description: This piece symbolizes the establishment of Harmony and its triumph over the ills exclusion can cause in communities of men. Terre d’Espoir, a non-profit organization located in Gabon commissioned this painting. Read below the poem incorporated in the painting.

~ Generosity For Our Orphans ~

In every child
a land of hope,
ascending, vast
and in harmony
with the divine
waltz which governs
our lives.

O humankind!
Let us cherish children
for they are ourselves
in some octave of
ever-prostration
to The Omniscient.

2007 copyrights Aida Toure

Description: One night I was sitting and my eyes rested on my beige guitar and all of the sudden I saw it painted with interesting patterns so I gathered my brushes and paint tubes and I started working on it right away… I entitled the piece “La Note Orange”.
Year of Creation: 2006

Description: This painting is a celebration of the prostration, with all the universes that unfold during this prayer position where the lover is closest to The Beloved. This piece has elements I had been longing to express for the longest time so it was a true celebration of the joy of Salat (prayer). The prostration position in Islamic prayer is one of the most moving experience the soul can journey through. Even though to many it may be considered as just a physical position, prostration is the moment when we are closest to Allah (swt), we shed our ego and the grace unfolds… During his prayers alone, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to stay in prostration for a long time and he would often shed tears.
Year of Creation: 2006