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Capturing the essence of his homeland as much of it was ravaged by conflict, and reflecting on how the Arab world has transformed over the course of the last dozen years, Syrian artist Dr Nizar Sabour recently unveiled an exhibition titled The Guardian of Memory About It All.
Inaugurated under the patronage of National Arts Council president Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and vice president Shaikh Turki bin Rashid Al Khalifa, in the presence of Youth Affairs Minister Rawan Tawfiqi, the exhibition includes 39 pieces and is on display at the Colours of the East Gallery in the Mall of Dilmunia.
“These works have been chosen from the last 12 years, during which my country has seen war and conflict,” the 64-year-old artist explained.
“They deal with various topics, from the impact of death to migration to the cities of the eastern Mediterranean, to the Mount of Olives, all based on memories, both mine and my fellow countrymen’s.”
In his cultural repository, Dr Nizar includes special influences from ancient history and its mythology, including the Epic of Gilgamesh as well as statues, icons and miniatures.
His work interposes these myths against the present tragedies in the region, including the destruction and invasion of Iraq, Palestine-Israel conflict as well as the Syrian war which left people’s lives and their religious monuments in ruins, including the Maaloula, Palmyra and Qalamoun.
In his works exhibited at this showcase, which runs until May 20, he uses symbols and local natural materials, which add both colour and texture, making it necessary to experience the piece in person to truly appreciate its beauty.
He uses geometric lines, birds, animals, and the landscape to take the viewer on a drive down his memory lane, with abstract and tangible references to the landmarks that coloured his years in his homeland.
His body of creation has also significantly evolved since his last exhibition in Bahrain in 1997 at the Art Centre in Manama.
Shaikh Rashid recalled the moment they had met 25 years ago, when Dr Nizar had familiarised himself with Bahraini art and lived experience, sharing it with fellow artists in the Levant.
Dr Nizar also collaborated with a number of artists since then, and hopes to do so now as well.
Ever since he graduated from the Damascus University in 1981, Dr Nizar’s journey through the visual arts has been a transformative one. He also went on to receive a PhD in Art Philosophy from the Strogonov Academy of Industrial and Applied Arts in Moscow in 1990 before teaching at the photography department and the fine arts faculty at Damascus University. He has held more than 60 art exhibitions in the Arab World, Russia, Europe and the US.
The Guardian of Memory About It All exhibition runs until May 20 at the Colours of the East Gallery in the Mall of Dilmunia.
For details, follow @coebahrain and @nizarsabour on Instagram.
