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Prominent painter and writer Abbas Yousif is taking art lovers on a journey through time at his latest showcase presentation staged at the InTouch Clinic in Janabiya.
The Through Different Times exhibition, which starts today at 7pm and will run until October 11, features 45 artworks inspired by varied periods in time.
“I hope that viewers will see a new experience in art and see paintings by an artist whose experience spans more than 30 years,” said Abbas, whose work is influenced by literature, poetry and Sufi texts.
“All the pieces are my favourites – they’re a part of me and a part of my soul. Painting is my private world. It is the paradise I visit every moment of every day.
“I’m very happy about this exhibition and working with my curator friend Frances Stafford.”
Frances, an art consultant who held previous roles at Al Riwaq Art Space, as well as the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, is delighted to be back in the kingdom and to see Abbas’ work on show.
“Abbas was one of the first artists I met when I came to Bahrain in 2010 and we have continued our friendship and professional relationship since then,” said Frances. “I have helped to exhibit him in Berlin at an important Art Fair, POSITIONS, and also in a few group exhibitions shown by the gallery Kleiner von Wiese.
“I was showing his work in my gallery ‘Last Oil Well’ too. He is one of the most important Bahraini artists and helps so many other emerging artists, while keeping his ties strengthened in the broader art scene in Bahrain. He does this by mounting solo shows annually and continuing to hold talks and workshops in his studio.
“He is always collaborating with other artists, writes about the art scene and is a critic himself.”
Abbas is a multi-talented artist having proven his skills in painting, calligraphy, printmaking and bookmaking and collage making.
He has exhibited consistently for more than two decades both nationally and internationally. Notable acquisitions of his paintings include the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture in Saudi Arabia, Al Salam Bank in Bahrain, Central Michigan University in the US, Montblanc in Dubai, Bahrain National Museum, National Museum of Damascus Syria and the British National Museum in the UK.
His work is also featured in The National Council for Culture, Arts & Literature in Kuwait, The Jordan Museum, Museum 4th Block in Ukraine, Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona and the Cultural Foundation in the UAE.
Abbas Yousif is also an art writer with various editorial contributions to magazines and reviews up to the present day. His books include To the Sea by a Butterfly’s Wing, With a Colour of Fire with a Spray of Metal, Shadow within the Shade, In the Presence of the Metal and the Pen, Conversations with Abbas Yousif, Capturing the Moment at its Reverie, A flow of colour and shape and his recent offering called Eloquent Colour.
Abbas is one of the many local artists that the clinic’s art space aims to support. “With the constant uncertainty regarding closures due to Covid-19 and the strain this has put on art related-events and exhibition opportunities for artists, InTouch has once again made it a priority to support local artists by reinstating the successful exhibition model we had running in the past,” said Dr Amy Bowzaylo, the clinical director and chief executive officer.
“The clinic has recently expanded and we are happy to be able to offer larger-scale exhibitions now, as obviously wall space has increased. We feel that showcasing original and beautiful artwork brings a positive aesthetic to the clinic and helps to brighten the day of any patient who may be suffering from ailments and seeking treatment.
“Since the clinic’s patients are already coming in for treatment, they organically become a new audience for the art.
“We hope these new audience members will lead to more opportunities for local artists. In addition, a calm and pleasant surrounding supports the healing and wellness journey, and we believe original works of art support this notion. We are always on the lookout for local artists.”
For the exhibition, guests must present their vaccine shield, wear masks and keep their distance.
For details, follow @abbasyusuf and @intouchclinicbahrain on Instagram.
