A DIFFERENT WAY OF SEEING

As you know, I’m a ten minute walk from the Arab Institute. Usually when there is an exhibition on, there is a sign which takes up practically the whole of the facade of the building. I was really surprised when I went down the other day that there was no indication of this Modern Art Collection that was on. Even when I went into the building. I finally saw a tiny poster going down to the exhibition. Quite surprising.



The Barjeel collection is exceptional. As is usual in the Institute, no-one was taking photographs - but I asked. You never know. Second surprise - photos allowed without flash. Of course when I took out my iPhone after having studied  most of the first floor, everyone else seemed to take out smart phones or cameras.

Just a bit about the Foundation. 

« Complied in 2010, the collection of Sultan Al Qassemi includes the works by leading figures of modern and contemporary Arab art. Managed by the Barjeel Foundation, a private foundation located in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, the collection is presented for the first time in France.  With a selection of ninety masterpieces, the Barjeel Collection retraces the history of Arab art since the second half of the twentieth century. Installations, photographs, paintings, and figurative and abstract works … the artists have explored every form of expression.


Based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, the private Barjeel Foundation is responsible for managing, preserving, and exhibiting Sultan Al Qassemi’s private collection. Through the presentation of this major collection to the general public, the Barjeel Foundation is contributing to the development and promotion of the Arab artistic scene in the world. The foundation’s publication policy and practice of holding exhibitions abroad attest to its desire to promote the Arab artistic heritage and contemporary art. »

One artist I did know was Adel Abdessemed. 
 There was also a marvelous exhibition we had seen in 2014 at the Institute 


 I have fallen in love with moroccan art

The others mentioned as being well known didn’t ring a bell at all or not at once. Hassan Sharif, Mohammed Cherkaoui, Marwan Kassab Bachi, Kader Attia, Rachid Koraichi, and Etel Adnan will be displayed alongside the works of less well known figures.  Laurent and I did see a marvelous exhibition some years ago with the artist Shafik Abboud. Was there any of his work included? We would see.

Many of the artists have been influenced by other International names and yet practically every picture seem to have something unique. 

Here we go…

I love her! « Woman in a Pink Dress » The artist’s name is BAYA (Algerian: 1931-98).
 



 When he was just about 14, Baya imagines a woman with a « Floating face » and hair which became a landscape. Aimé Maeght (a well known gallery owner) discovered Baya when she was barely 16, the artist also influenced Picasso for his series of Algerian Women. 











 Ahmed Morsi was born in Alexandria (Egypt) in 1930. He worked and lived in Egypt until leaving for New York or rather Manhattan in the 70’s. From what I sas on Internet, he is a very prolific artist.

This too is a gem. Kadhim Hayder (Irak, 1932-1985) « Fatigued Ten Horses converse with Nothing » -1965
After the « coup d’état » in Irak in 1963, Kadhim composed a series of paintings describing the battle in Karbala.



 



Seif Wanly (Egypt, 1906-Sweden, 1979). Seif captures intimate subjects spontaneously - quite out of tradition for the Arab artists. He came from an intellectual family and spoke in French…


 



 




Shakir Hassan Al Said (Irak, 1925-2004) - an Iraqi painter, sculptor and writer, is considered to be one of Iraq's most innovative and influential artists.
I stayed quite sometime in front of this painting . « Evacuation: We will Return » - 1983.




 



 




This scroll done by Raafat Isak in Egypt in 2012 was completed when the new President, Mohammed Morsi came into power. Apparently it lists all the challenges that Morsi would have to face. A rather strange sense of humor too as Isak confirms that the  Nile river will be what will calm the political situation. 







 



 



A composition done by Miloud in 1973/75.  Moroccan (1939-2008)

 







Another Moroccan, Ahmed Cheakoui (1934-1967). Title « Alea » - 1965

 





Omar El Nagdi (Egypt - 1931-)







 







 





This painting « Colours with Black and Grey » done in 1968 by Jafar Islah (Koweit, 1946) is very strange. You don’t feel it as much here, but I felt as if I could walk into the picture. Haunting. 





 




 


Another man from Koweit, Ibrahim Ismail (1945-) painted « Earthquake » in 1967.




 







 



There is no title for the next painting (1963-64)  done by Etel Adnan born in Liban in 1925. 





 

Chafic Abboud (Born in Lebanon  in 1926 and died in France in 2004) His name rings a bell. I’m convinced that I have seen his work which was confirmed when I looked at his home page on Internet. I like it. Non realistic and bold strokes.



The second painting of his is called « The Image Box » done in 1975. Really powerful. 






 
















 



Mohammed Khadda who was an Algerian painter (1930-1991) did this « Green Abstraction » in 1969.

 





 



This is weird. « Cactus with city in background, » done in 1988 by a Palestinian artist, Asim Abu Shakra (Born in Palestine in 1961 and died in Israel in 1990)
The cactus which is known for its very deep roots is a popular symbol in Palestine for its tenacity. The artist probably painted this as a rapprochement between the national icon and his own life in Tel-Aviv. Apparently you often see cactus on window ledges…



 



After the black-black this I find quite charming. Once again painted by Shakir Hassan Al Said (see above). There is a definite a European influence here…









 



Just look at all the signs in this painting. On the border, the background and the huge sign in the middle. Rachid Karachi born in Algeria in 1947.

Strange titles for both his paintings.
« Without you or me or nostalgic hallucination » (1968)

« This space filled with our destinies » (1947).

I certainly know Hassan Sharif’s work. He was an  Emirati artist who lived and worked in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. His work is represented in major public collections, such as the Guggenheim New York, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Centre Pompidou, Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art, and Sharjah Art Foundation. I probably first saw his work in Dubai. This painting I certainly have never seen. It’s suppose to represent the artist in his atelier. He was very influenced by the Fluxus movement and Duchamp. From when he did this in 1980, he went on to finding objects which we use on a daily basis and developed installations representing our world of consumption.

 

 


Marwan Kassab Bachi (born in Syria in 1934 and he died last year, 2016 in Germany). No title and painted in 1989.

 



Of course you have seen a lot of Adel Abdessemed’s work. Algerian, born in 1971. This is quite strange. A series of 18 sketches on 18 stands…each sketch is of a conductor. Looking « in on » the orchestra, suddenly I became part of it.

 


You saw this painting right at the beginning and another one just above by the same artist.  Marwan Kassab Bach (Syrian). This portrait belonged to his figurative period. The person breaks away from his environment and it shows his solitude and melancholy. Perhaps it is related to the horror and political influences in his country. 








 




This certainly does « My Leg Above me Neck » done in 2010 by another Syrian artist, Fadi Al Hamwi.

 






 




Here is another painting by Seif Wanly. Simply called « Flute player », 1951.

 

You may have noticed that many of the colors used in these paintings seem to relate to the desert. Brown, yellow, okra and then I came upon this done by Nadia Ayari (Tunisia, 1981) called « The Fence » (2007) It’s imprisoned  eye is surreal. Here the artist is taken position against the ridiculise rights of certain politicians and men in general.

 




 


What a wonderful tapestry done by Etel Adnan in 2013. « Petrol Fields » represented by geometric abstract signs.

 



 





Ali Al Abdan (1972 E.A.U.) - « Gulf Conditions », 2010

 





Mahmoud Said (Egyptian) « The White Cat » (1948) He stands out as much as those veiled women who seem to be giggling and carrying on behind those veiled faces.

 

 


This is something I knew nothing about. « Buddy Bear » (2013) was made out of ciment taken by the artist Khaled Jarrar, (Palestinian) from the wall which separates Israel and Palestine. The bear is the symbol of innocence denouncing the injustice endured by children who are victims to exile. It is also a « satirical smile » to « United Buddy Bears » created in 2002 by artists in 140 countries to symbolize tolerance between nations.

 


 




« Platform » by Waseem Larzouki (Syrian, 1982). Painted in 2014.


 










 Now comes a series of paintings which were clubbed together so until now I really haven’t looked at them individually. Some are really very exciting and new.

Abdallah Benanteur (Algerian, 1931) did two paintings. One called « Avalanche »



and the other « Storm ». The colors are so delicate and a move away from the desert sand. Abstract perhaps but both paintings related to their titles for me.

Here I was really taken in - and forgot to photograph the artist's name

The Red Mirors painted in 1980 but Ahmed Cherkaoui tells a fascinating story. 



                                                                                                                          


 

  

But look at these three paintings. Heap 1, 2 and 3. Mohammed Said Baalbaki (Lebanese). Once he came to Berlin in 2002 he started painting subjects which are filled with clothes, shoes….melancholic and solitary heaps which became for him a loss of roots.

I’m sure you like Walid Al Shami (Syrian) « Maryam » 1972. 


I really smiled at this - so much so that forgot to photograph the artist’s name….

 

Maryam

But who is she ?

These two paintings were next to one another. 

Paul Guiragossian (Palestine, 1926 -Lebanon, 1993)

Madona and Child at the beginning of the 60’s

And next to it, Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara ‘Palestine, 1933)
The Launch, done in 1990. 

The contrast is very striking…
 

 « No More Tears » (2014) Describes a lot. Abdulnasser Gharem (Southern Arabia)

 

I guess one has to smile at this. « Clean Teeth, » 2014 by Fadi Al Hamwi (Syrian, 1986)


 


This work in neon lights done in 1970 by Kader Attia (France, 1970) questions the roots of democracy Like an ideological political myth as a result of our democratic (?) and universal cultures.
« DEMO(N)CRACY, » 2010. 



 





Another painting by Adel Abdessemed. « Coup de Tête » done in 2013. Unfortunately It was badly lit.

 




« No where to hide » (2015) is the title of this painting. The artist, Tagreed Darghouth (Lebanese, 1979 chose to represent surveillance systems that are in view in public places. Cameras, drones and planes which make the title of the painting even more frightening. The black and grey tones certainly reinforce that worrying feeling we all may have.

 

One more painting which I like by Shakir Hassan Al Said. No title but it was painted in 1963.


Instead of taking photos (when I can) as I go along the exhibition, I really should « do » the exhibition first and then come back and take photos. This is what I had done with this collection. It meant that I certainly stayed much longer. I doubt that the names will stick in my mind but many of the visuals will. Hope you enjoyed it too.