An abstract search for man and nature structured my ideas as regards the immediate surrounding, motivating me to set my “a priori” knowledge along with imagination, depicting the pastoral man in his innocence and liveliness, thus incorporating nature into man, who considered himself part of, and belonging to, nature. This idea characterized my earliest paintings. The image of a light, luxuriant atmosphere of the ancient eras prompted me to search for them, serving as an unconscious drive behind all my attempts. A great yearning for the past traditions and ancient civilizations was responsible for the emergence of certain motifs and elements, such as fretwork, figures of Persian painting and geomtric pictures. My works in this period are marked by the use of geometrical configurations, level and color planes, and a tendency toward aggrandization.
The young generation of artists, following the social upheavals, war, and crises they went through, are trying to materialize their ideas. Aware of the magnificent art of the past, this generation has attempted to elucidate their ideals. This period is further characterized by ambiguity of forms, so that, in these works, man doesn’t appear distinctly but his true presence can be felt all the more emphatically. Here, form manifests an inner charm, which leads to something like an epiphany, being deeply rooted in dreams and visions. Thus, the thought transcends the canvas. An interest in tradition, being with me all the time, was so persistent that it permeated even my conceptual works. Religious signs and symbols, seen through a modern eye, all arose from the same religious and traditional notions that I have entertained. My childhood, along with religious ceremonies, has been responsible for my present creativity, which seeks a way to link the past to the future.
Morteza Darehbaghi
Build A Collection – Jun2012
Each month, to help you build on your existing collection or to make the first move we will be offering a significant piece at a price to suit your ‘Building a Collection’ Budget.
The Majlis Gallery is renown for the depth and breadth of our collection of original artwork.
Buying an original piece can seem daunting but we are here to ensure that it is an exciting , enjoyable and affordable experience.
Build A Collection artwork this month is Thoughts by Dean Williams
Dean Williams – Thoughts – 150 x 120 cms, Acrylic on Canvas
Build A Collection Price 13,250 AED (Original Price – 26,500 AED)
Click here to order.
We can help you Build your Collection. Our passion is art, so let’s build.
Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali, Syria’s foremost sculptor, was born in Latakia in 1956. Known for elegant, monumental sculptures that pierce the consciousness and underscore the fragility of mankind, he has been widely collected in the Arab world for nearly three decades. Mustafa has been a major contributor to the Majlis Galleries Exhibition programme since the mid 1990’s. He will be showing new works with us in Design Days 2013
After training in sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus, he continued his studies at the Fine Arts Academy in Carrara, Italy, graduating in 1996. He has exhibited extensively on the international art circuit since 1979 and has participated in a number of high-profile events such as Latakia Sculpture Biennial (where he was awarded the Golden Prize) (1997), the Biennial of Alexandria, Egypt (1994), the Sharjah Biennial (1995), and the International Symposium for Sculptors in Valencia, Spain (2001).
Ali’s work is housed in private and public collections, including a number of official institutions in Syria such as the National Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Damascus, in addition to the Jordan National Gallery in Amman, the Sharjah Museum of Art and the Arab World Institute in Paris. Many of his bronze and wood sculptures can also be found in public spaces, such as “The Gate of Syria,” which is on display in the Mediterranean Olympiad in Pari, Italy, and “The Tower of Memory,” which stands in the Damascus International Fairground.
Indispensible to the Syrian art scene for years, Ali is also the director of the renowned Damascus art center The Mustafa Ali Art Foundation, which presents exhibitions, workshops, lectures and cultural events throughout. A highly acclaimed artist but also a man who loves to play within his genre.
View Mustafa Ali Portfolio
Sue Casson
Sue traces her love of the outdoors and wildlife to Kenya where she was raised and lived for twenty three years. The Public response to exhibitions of her work in the Kings Road, Chelsea encouraged her to take up art as a career in 1972. In order to refine her technique, she studied painting in oils under Robin Goodwin who also instructed David Shepherd after which she returned to Kenya. Here she had the ideal opportunity to paint and observe animals at close quarters. Since 1980, Sue has been based in the Cotswold’s, England, making frequent trips abroad for exhibitions and to gather material. She now concentrates on Arabian subject matter, portraits, wildlife, dogs and landscapes. Her drawings are in conté chalk, ink and watercolour. Although she no longer paints in oils, her oil paintings can be found on the walls of art collectors worldwide. Sue has had a long association with the Majlis Gallery in Dubai and has made many trips to UAE over the years finding endless sources of inspiration: desert scenes with spectacular lighting, shady wadis, camel camps, and beached dhows, fishermen bringing in the catch, the colourful souk and the exotic atmosphere of the entire region. In March 1997 Sue was one of 35 British artists invited by The Majlis Gallery to exhibit in the first New Orientalist exhibition held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
View Sue Casson Portfolio
Faces – Nitin Dadrawala
From May 5th thru June 30th, 2012.
An Exhibition of recent works by Nitin Dadrawala.
Drawing is another way of thinking. Drawing is some kind of notation. There is no correct way of drawing a line. Richard Serra
I use line and another line and another line and built up an image which comes from within rather than a representation of something or somebody. It is something like reinventing face again and again. A face that has lost its voice. It is speechless. Its lips are stitched. There is freedom to survive but no freedom to speak. You cannot share your pain, sorrow. Fascism is growing slowly. Somebody is controlling our every aspect of personal life. There is subordination of the individuals. Ruled by the mob where this face is helpless. These faces are in an unquestioning state. Every face is suffering from suppression. This face sometimes cries. Tears pass silently though its eyes. As least they have freedom to cry. Faces are stunned by reality. They are shocked. This face becomes universal representive of suffering individuals. Sometimes this face needs more eyes to cry or to show the pain. Just a pair of eyes is not enough. Faces are having a hard time everywhere. They represent global suffering. Horror of terrorism is seen on the face and the helplessness too. Helpless faces standing quietly in the collapsing system. They find it difficult to cope with the present. Faces abandoned. There is destruction in the construction of the face. My drawing process is like searching something or some expression which suprises me. There is desctruction of face in this process, at the same time it is a creation and a never ending search. The force of lines I drew gradually evolved with the development of each face. Thus each face is a discovery to me. The contribution of lines becomes complex, as complex as life. There is no sign of liberation. The experience was like, with each drawing, I am travelling underneath the layer of a face. Making these drawings is something like communicating some pain. These drawings are trying to evoke very strong emotions through very strong lines.
Fine linen from The Linen Souq
From May 2012 we will be stocking fine linen from The Linen Souq.
All these products are lovingly designed and made in Dubai, a range of high quality linen tablecloths, napkins and laundry bags with exquisite embroidery in a range of colours and designs, at entirely affordble prices.
QiDe Jewellery by Leylan Savasman
We are delighted to be selling QiDe Jewellery by Leylan Savasman
QiDe Jewellery is a seductive design journey through Vietnam, Indonesia, China, India, Thailand, Cambodia and on the Savannahs of Africa, back through Italy and Germany ending up in the heart of Istanbul. An elegant eclectic, modern picture reflected in the abundance of silver, natural stones and elements of the earth found all over the world by Leylan Savasman herself over the many years of her far flung travels.
Born on the same shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, German-Turkish designer Leylan Savasman’s artistic journey is self-directed. She spent her childhood immersed in Renaissance art and architecture and studied jewellery making, Gemmology in Germany and art history in the U.S.
Leylan exhibits in Germany, France, South Africa, Bahrain and Dubai in galleries and shops specialized in striking, unique and handcrafted jewellery.
QiDe Jewellery is exclusively sold in Dubai in The Majlis Gallery.
Nitin Dadrawala
These days art galleries in Dubai are being inundated with artists from all over the world wishing to become part of the “Art Boom.” We are often asked how we choose who and what we show. Mainly the answer is that the work chooses us. It either comes from artists with whom we have built a long association over many years, occasionally it comes from a new one with something so special we want to share it with our clients. Nitin Dadrawala is one such artist.
In this age of race and pace art helps to ground us, remind us of the quieter stiller moments, show us that human energy need not be solely directed towards commerce and materialism, encourage us to see beyond the everyday, to the truth and beauty of that eternal phrase “less is more”.
Nitin has not courted “the market” preferring to immerse himself in the process of subconscious observation. A process he likens to looking into the depths of the sea from the deck of a ship. His paintings and works on paper have an infinity, a quality of Zen that can take you to your own special place, may be abstract maybe real, a place of peace and natural order. Something we all need in our lives.
View Nitin Dadrawala Portfolio
Build A Collection – May2012
Each month, to help you build on your existing collection or to make the first move we will be offering a significant piece at a price to suit your ‘Building a Collection’ Budget.
The Majlis Gallery is renown for the depth and breadth of our collection of original artwork.
Buying an original piece can seem daunting but we are here to ensure that it is an exciting , enjoyable and affordable experience.
Build A Collection artwork this month is Tea Stain and Ink on Paper by Nitin Dadrawala
Nitin Dadrawala – 38cmx55cm, Tea Stain and Ink on Paper, 2012
Build A Collection Price Dhs. 1,500 (Original Price 3000Dhs)
Click here to order.
We can help you Build your Collection. Our passion is art, so let’s build.
Build A Collection – Apr2012
Each month, to help you build on your existing collection or to make the first move we will be offering a significant piece at a price to suit your ‘Building a Collection’ Budget.
The Majlis Gallery is renown for the depth and breadth of our collection of original artwork.
Buying an original piece can seem daunting but we are here to ensure that it is an exciting , enjoyable and affordable experience.
Build A Collection artwork this month is one piece from the Al Mawaqif Series
Jamal Abdul Rahim – 60x80cm, Al-Mawaqif 3, 2009
Build A Collection Price Dhs. 3,000 (Original Price 6000Dhs)
Click here to order.
We can help you Build your Collection. Our passion is art, so let’s build.