Ali Akbar Sahiwala

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED!

2011-02-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I know it's been forever since my last post back in April '10 but I just managed to finish my own portfolio website. Please view it for more of my works, copies of my resume & portfolio and a more up-to-date account on what I've been upto.

Please visit http://www.aliakbarsahiwala.com/

Many Thanks :),

Ali Akbar

إنّ اللّه جميل يحبّ الجمال

2010-04-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

A first (but not last) computer-based painting.

It states a phrase from the Hadith:

'Indeed Allah is beautiful and loves beauty'

إنّ اللّه جميل يحبّ الجمال

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Logo Competition

2010-02-23T19:57:00.000-08:00

I designed three proposed Logo Designs for a design competition held by the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence for volunteering efforts. All entries utilize the UAE flag colors (a requirement) and can be used as a badge.

For the first design, I made a logo showing two caring hands that are set against the city backdrop.

For the second design, I made a logo with it's shape is based on the official Abu Dhabi brand. A human figure is put in the center with outstretched arms, expressing pride and united efforts.

For the third design, I made a logo with a human figure with outstretched arms looking across the skyline, exuberating a sense of caring for the city. It utilizes the UAE flag colors and can be used as a badge.

Aston Martin One 77

2010-02-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

1.5 hour Tonal-sketch of the Aston Martin One 77

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step

2010-01-29T15:43:00.000-08:00

رحلة الألف ميل تبدأ بخطوة

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step

(Pen and Watercolor)

Travel Sketches

2010-01-07T05:45:00.001-08:00

Below are three quick sketches I did on the flight back from Toronto to Abu Dhabi. (It was non-stop so I had lots of time to kill!)

First two are of two memorable sites in Toronto done in pen:

The former is shows Convocation Hall and a backdrop of the skyline behind the University of Toronto Campus.

The latter shows the Art Gallery of Ontario-renowned for it's interesting design--which I make it a point to pass by on my way to class!

Lastly, I did a tonal sketch of a Porsche Concept. It uses a similar template as the Audi Concept and Bugatti Veyron drawing I completed earlier.

Ramsden Park Swimming Pool Complex

2009-12-14T00:03:00.000-08:00

As a final studio course, we designed pool complexes for the quaint Ramsden Park. (More coming soon)

TTC Subway Station Redesign

2009-12-13T23:57:00.000-08:00

Noticing that various TTC Subway stations are not covered, I set about designing different stations that were influenced by nearby architectural monuments. I then focused more attention to a station that would be located near the Art Gallery of Ontario by Gehry Partners LLP.

(More info coming soon)

The 'Dirty House' by David Adjaye

2009-12-13T23:49:00.000-08:00

Once again, in part of the third year representation course, I closely examined the 'Dirty House' by David Adjaye which was built in East London for two artists. Being a very conceptually-strong project, I set about making a compositional painting (an exploded two-point perspective painting) and a conceptual model that showed the distribution of light inside art-gallery-like home that was centered on privacy and protection in the harsh neightbourhood.

Mapping Dundas Square

2009-12-13T23:43:00.000-08:00

Part of a third-year representation course, I was involved in a group-project with Lily Kasapi and Masayuki Kobayashi; we looked at abstract features like advertising, programmatic distribution and the effects this had on traffic and how the public circulated around the bustling Dundas Square based on a precedent image shown below.

Second Year-Design

2009-12-13T23:36:00.001-08:00

One of our projects included having to design a pathway going through a Riverdale Park East in Toronto. In addition to orthographic drawings, we made topographical models with our pathway on site.

(More info coming soon)

Dubai Skyline Rendering

2009-12-13T23:11:00.001-08:00

Based on a photograph by Imre Solt, I rendered the following watercolor painting of the skyline looking down the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai as of late November 2009. Here, the Burj Dubai peers above the numerous surrounding buildings and heralds a beacon for the UAE's enormous growth over the past decade.

Featured on the following websites :D!
http://imresolt.blogspot.com/2009/12/dubai-art-works-by-ali-akbar-sahiwala.html
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=534013

Second-Year Representation

2009-12-13T23:01:00.000-08:00

Being the first year of studios, the year was crammed with numerous projects. Two of the better projects I accomplished are shown below.

The first project was part of a representation course. I chose to study the Terrance Donelly Biomolecular Research Building by architectsAlliance and Behnisch Architekten and produced several drawings-some of which are shown below.

The second project featured four mapping exercises-I was assigned to mapping Bloor St from University Avenue to Yonge Street. A very tedious exercise indeed for two weeks!

First-Year Architecture Projects

2009-12-13T22:38:00.000-08:00

The following include some of my early first-year architectural projects at UofT.

- These two images are from an essay describing the Foster and Partners Leslie Dan Pharmacy Building found in the university.

- This De-Stijl object, made entirely out of plastic, was meant to weather the windy fall season as it hung along with various other objects designed by other students.

-These two images are from an essay based on the Seattle Public Library by the OMA.

IB Art Murals

2009-12-13T22:23:00.000-08:00

These murals date from the IB Art & Design program I took in my last two years at high school.

The first mural titled 'Escape' was very large mural and as a get-away point right outside the classroom (inspired by the movie Collateral)!

The second mural called 'Fusion' was a joint-effort mural with geometric Arabic patterns by a fellow student Jobeth, and I.

Celebration of the Arabian Horse

2009-12-13T21:52:00.000-08:00

My school, Emirates International School (Jumeirah), participated in 2005 alongside various other schools and artists in painting horse sculptures for the Celebration of the Arabic Horse. Our horse was sponsored by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and was under the Godolphin initiative. Our team of students headed by Ms.Karamah Aweidah painted a horse titled 'Our International Quilt'. It was later auctioned for charity and displayed across the city.

I painted four parts of the horse namely two depictions of the Dubai Marina, an arabesque pattern and another pattern based on cool colors. I'm mentioned on the following-do check it out : )!
http://www.arabianhorses.ae/newzdetail.asp?ID=19

PURE Beach Resort & Spa

2009-12-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

As an assistant rendering artist to Michael McCann, I helped by drawing some of the watercolor renderings for the PURE Beach Resort and Spa which was done in partnership with NORR Limited (only worked on the buildings and scenery). I was part of earlier this year in April 09 and I enjoyed attending the meetings and discussing the conceptual designs for the beach-side development.

Due to my exams being at the same time, I joined in the project a bit late and was cramped for time. Below are the two pictures which I began drawing for Michael to then paint.. Make sure to check out the official blog for more renderings in the set: http://www.purebeachresort.com/blog/

Setting the precedent in car-design...

2009-12-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

I found the following render online which I think is stunning! One day soon Inshallah, I'm going to learn how to render like that : ).

For the time-being, however, this will suffice ha. I did this pen/tonal sketch in less than thirty mintues-its a conceptualized version of the Audi R8.

New Space Journal

2009-12-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

Our final project for the course ARC232 (Architecture, Media and Communication) was to produce a journal that charted out our understanding of the coined 'New Space', analyzing some of the roles 'New Space' undertakes in society and predicting how future trends may appear.

'New Space' refers to the dynamic Internet-based system with categories ranging in wireless systems, social-networking systems and broader of the changing role of the consumer in society through the Internet. I chose to approach this broad topic in three main units:

-Unit 1: The City- Understanding the phenomena of mapping via computing/Internet along with seeing how urban fabric is being/could-be altered by technology.
-Unit 2: The Building- Looking at the (changing) notions of privacy that technology has brought in the dwelling plus the ubiquity and future of technology.
-Unit 3: The Individual- Analyzing the social cultural transformation brought about by technology along with the shift to interactive decision making by individuals and the implications it can have on society.

Artistic Expressions 2008

2009-11-24T01:31:00.000-08:00

Debut Exhibition by my Mum and I in Dubai-January 2008 showcasing my art works artificial floral arrangements by my Mum. My works were completed over several years and range from architecture, calligraphy, still life and abstract art works in various media.

'Enter My Paradise', Oil and Acrylic, 01/2006

Dome of the Rock, Oil and Acrylic, 07/2007

Jumeirah Mosque, Pen and watercolor 08/2005

Bastakiya, Oil and Acrylic, 01/2008

Burj Al-Arab, Pen and watercolor, 07/2006

Gold Coast Sunset, Pen and watercolor, 07/2006

Apples, Color Pencils, 12/2003

Watercolor Rendering of Masjid-Al-Haram in Makkah

2009-11-23T02:30:00.000-08:00

Dedicated to the holy first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Also, I want to use this painting in my portfolio to represent the time I spent on the Makkah project as a team-member with Bruce Mau Design earlier this year. I did this painting using the style taught to me by rendering-artist Michael McCann :)

تقبل الله مني ومنكم صالح الأعمال

Good News Hamdulilah! My work previewed on the following websites-make sure to check it out :D! http://www.islamic-architecture.info/
http://uoftmsa.com/

ADCHS Logo

2009-11-19T16:50:00.000-08:00

I designed two proposed Logo Designs for a design competition held by the Abu Dhabi Center for Housing & Service Facilities Development.

For the first design, I focused on representing three buildings and the red 'wave' with the UAE flag colors. The wave represents dynamism and forward thinking against the backdrop of the buildings.

For the second design, I drew a quick sketch of the city's skyline and tried to show a herald of opportunity through the waves. The border is a contemporary take of a traditional arabesque feature, showing harmony. Once again, I used the UAE flag colors.

Ghutra project

2009-11-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

Being asked to investigate the spatial and assembly techniques of a specific piece of clothing in my third project in ARC321-Representation 2, I focused my project on the 'ghutra' which is a Middle-Eastern patterned cloth wrapped around the head, for men. It has been derived from Bedouin lifestyle and as a protection from the sun but is now morphed into Arab identity and culture, with each country having their own derived 'style' (I focused on the style often worn in the UAE).

This project really jump-started a lot of things for me in terms of professional work & experience and haven't yet included it in my portfolio yet so I thought I should at least get in on the blog..

Photo of me wearing the ghutra

Cartoon illustration showing some of the different ways to wear the ghutra

Side Elevational View

Top Elevational view

Understanding how to fold the ghutra + Sectional views at different intersections

Composite drawing that focuses on the correlation between the body (i.e. arms, hands, head) and the clothing.

Conceptual Model of the ghutra

Dar Al-Hekma Mosque

2009-11-04T04:10:00.000-08:00

I'm helping design a new Mosque in West Toronto called Dar Al Hekma (House of Wisdom). I suggested some logo designs and a color selection to choose from for the carpet.
Lol, my Indesign has Arabic Numerals set as default for some reason so all numbers appear in Arabic--something I still don't know how to change!

HP Scan-Screen

2009-11-04T03:58:00.000-08:00

Being asked to design a hybrid-product for ARC232 (Architecture, Media and Communication), I came up with a design to attach a Touch-Screen LCD Monitor with a Flatbed Scanner behind it. There were several intentions to this project, mainly that it would aid in design processes at workplaces and complete the cycle for inputting data to the computer. It saves considerable space on the desktop and with on-going developments in touch-screen technology, this could be a very practical way of designing!

Car Designs

2009-10-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Various sketches of car-designs

My first-ever photoshop rendering of a concept Audi! Took me over 6 hours!!

Conceptual sketch, based on the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster..
3 hour sketch-Pen and Tonal

Conceptual sketch of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Centenaire..
30 minute-Tonal

Conceptual sketches of a hybrid Mercedes Benz CL-Class/S-Class
3.5 hour sketch-Tonal

Various car sketches from GCSE Art (2004)
Mixed Media

Playing around with photoshop

2009-10-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Some different designs I made on Photoshop..

Chinese-style painting of Lake Louise with a poem on nature by Li Bai

Sunset in Edinburgh-touching up a photograph!

Poster with my name!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

2009-10-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful