Bandung, West Java (ANTARA News) - Entering new year 2011, Bahar Malaka and Harry Purnomo, both Cimahi artists, produced their first joint painting in 2011 depicting Al-Aqsha mosque as a symbol of hope for world peace.

"Al-Aqsha mosque is our first painting in 2011, as a symbol of hope for world peace," Bahar Malaka, said here early Saturday.

They finished their painting in front of Gedung Merdeka (Freedom Building) on the historical Asia Africa street in Bandung, West Java, few seconds after the clock struck at midnight, marking the New Year 2011.

Gedung Merdeka was the venue of the first Asia Africa Conference in 1955 or known as the Bandung Conference. The conference participated in by 29 countries, was an important step toward the crystallization of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Al-Aqsha painting will be presented to Unicef.

"We chose Al-Aqsha because the mosque is an icon of melting point of the world`s major religions," Bahar said.

For ages in the Palestinian land, there has been injustice euphoria, inter-ethnic misunderstanding and world civilization clashes, he said.

Al-Aqsa Mosque located in Jerusalem, Palestine, is Muslims` first qibla (direction for prayers) and one of Islam`s three holiest mosques, after Al-Haram mosque in Mecca and Al Nabawi mosque in Madina, both in Saudi Arabia.
(Uu.F001/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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