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| Abdul Karim Majdal Al Beik 'The Night' 150 X 150 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2012 |
Abdul Karim Majdal
Al-Beik’s painterly compositions seek untold stories amongst the
multitude of graffiti, etchings, marks and cracks of the walls of
Damascus’s Old City. Originally employing only shades of white, black
and grey, and the exact materials used in the construction of the
ancient Damascene walls, Majdal Al-Beik’s practice has evolved to
incorporate a wider palette and the inclusion of additional elements
such as small crosses, fabric strips, string, guns and knives; a
response to the on-going turmoil afflicting Syria.
'Against the Wall' demonstrates the loss of naivety that is the inevitable consequence of war and the passage of time. The violence to which Damascus now bears witness is evidenced in the works on display; no longer passively subdued, Majdal Al-Beik’s muted canvases are emboldened with splashes of bright colour and prominent red-soaked areas. Etched demonstrations of affection, quips of frustrated adolescence, names carved for posterity, funeral notices, municipality postings, and 'For Rent' signs have been replaced by commentary on the current state of affairs in Syria; the same walls where children once scrawled their names form the backdrop to executions where men and women are lined up and shot.
'Against the Wall' demonstrates the loss of naivety that is the inevitable consequence of war and the passage of time. The violence to which Damascus now bears witness is evidenced in the works on display; no longer passively subdued, Majdal Al-Beik’s muted canvases are emboldened with splashes of bright colour and prominent red-soaked areas. Etched demonstrations of affection, quips of frustrated adolescence, names carved for posterity, funeral notices, municipality postings, and 'For Rent' signs have been replaced by commentary on the current state of affairs in Syria; the same walls where children once scrawled their names form the backdrop to executions where men and women are lined up and shot.
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| Abdulkarim Majdal Al Beik > 'The Trap 1' > 180 X 180 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2012 |
Born in a small village on the outskirts of Al-Hasakah, Syria in 1973, Abdul Karim Majdal Al-Beik has participated in numerous exhibitions throughout the Middle East and has been the recipient of several awards, including ones from Lattakia Biennale and Shabab Ayyam. His works are housed in public and private collections throughout the Middle East and Europe.
Ayyam Gallery, Beirut is located at Beirut Tower, ground floor, Zeitoune Street across from Beirut Marina. For more information, please contact the gallery at +961 1 374450, email beirut@ayyamgallery.com, or visit www.ayyamgallery.com
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