As part of an international cultural exchange with BBA in Berlin, Germany, Fann À Porter is pleased to present Narratives from the Middle East, a group exhibition of work by Majd Kurdieh, Houssam Ballan, Omar Najjar, Fadi Attoura, and Mariam Abbas. These four emerging Middle Eastern artists will be exhibiting in the Berlin gallery from February 22 – March 22, 2019. With a joint objective of extending a wide platform to underrepresented artists, the two galleries are participating in such an exchange to ensure that the artists are represented in markets abroad and also to enhance awareness, understanding and appreciation of cultural specifics and the contemporary artistic language of both countries.
Omar Najjar, a young Palestinian (born 1992, Jordan), is known for his innovative style that he describes as “structured chaos.” He uses bold and broad brushstrokes, which take their roots in impressionism and chooses oil, pastels and charcoal for his medium. His quotidian subjects emphasise his techniques and places the viewer in a position of intimacy.
Emirati Mariam Abbas (b. 1985, United Arab Emirates) portrays subjects related to her hometown of Dubai. With astounding attention to detail, Abbas uses pencils and charcoal to compose delicate and intricate designs. For this series, she chooses old Arabian urban spaces in order to highlight their unexpected beauty and significance amid a rapidly changing environment.
Houssam Ballan (b. 1983, Syria) is a figurative artist, who rather than painting representative portraits, works with the idea of painting the inner landscape of his subjects and capturing their subconscious. His works are sometimes blurred and contain minimal detail, referencing the inconsistencies of memory and therefore capturing the reality of human experience.
Majd Kurdieh (b. 1985, Syria) has a whimsical and fantastical style for which he has created an entire cast of characters to tell the compelling and sometimes tragic story of his life and homeland. The protagonists in this story are Fasaeen (Arabic for ‘tiny ones’) and they are always smiling despite their world being filled with hardships. They are usually accompanied by other characters and poetic phrases written in Arabic. At first glance, the works seem cartoonlike and simple, however, upon further investigation, it is clear that the artist is using this device to unpack the complex experience of living through civil unrest and also to convey strong messages of hope and action.
Fadi Attoura (b. 1978, Syria) unifies the carefree, childlike spirit that he picks up on from his surrounding environments and the formalism of Op art, drawing influence from the geometric forms and motifs of early mosaic designs.
“These works come together to present a snapshot of contemporary artistic output from across the Arabic speaking world and it is our great pleasure to present them together to European audiences in the hope that through art, we can connect with new audiences and tell their stories on an international level,” said Ghada Kunash, founder of The Workshop.
This exhibition is part of the gallery’s ongoing efforts to participate in cultural exchange around the world. It is also inspired by the forthcoming Expo 2020, which will celebrate human ingenuity and collaboration taking place under the theme of 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. In line with this mission, this exhibition is will foster creativity across borders, enhancing opportunities and facilitating cultural understanding between the UAE and Germany.
