Zawyeh Gallery presents the works of three renowned artists: Bashir Makhoul, Hosni Radwan, and Nabil Anani.

In this edition of Abu Dhabi Art 2023, Bashir Makhoul participates in three series of works: Skein, Preoccupation and Scarcity, the artist deliberately accentuates the visual and tactile pleasures found in rich and intricate surfaces that continually oscillate between the realms of figurative and abstract art, as well as between the personal and the political. These works navigate the often conflicting traditions of conceptual and aesthetic art, hardedge paintings, geometric sculptures, as well as realistic paintings, all while remaining intertwined in the complex tapestry of painful histories, political realities of home, and personal and collective narratives.

The series take the form of reimagined paintings, sculptures, and prints, primarily showcasing partially conceptually abstracted depictions of houses. These houses are presented in an immersive, unfolding manner, completely covering the surfaces of the paintings and sculptures. Over the past decade, the image of the house has become a signature motif in Makhoul’s work. It condenses and intensifies the interplay between abstraction, repetition, and pattern, while also exploring themes of home, belonging, and displacement.

Hosni Radwan participates with works from his latest series titled Jerusalem: The City of Paradoxes. Using charcoal, acrylic, and gold leaf on canvas, he attempts to express his fascination with a city haunted by shades of paradoxes.

The minute Radwan saw Jerusalem, after living in the diaspora most of his life, he fell in love with it. He was fascinated with the place, its beauty, and contradictions; the little arches, the oriental style of architecture, the smells, the colors, the noises, and the unique way of living. Jerusalem brought the artist closer to safety and belonging as it carried him back to his childhood in the old city of Baghdad (the place where his family was displaced in 1948). The two places have many things in common, which appear on the surface of his paintings as childish sparkles, cold grey corners, little ancient white domes, golden holy places as well as pink stones.

Nabil Anani participates with new works presenting the Palestinian landscape without disruptions, a perfectly manicured, well-tended landscape. He paints the picturesque hills of Palestine without the ever-increasing Israeli settlements, bypass roads, roadblocks, walls, and watch towers normally visible on every corner.

Anani has addressed the Palestinian landscape and rural life throughout his artistic journey, and his fascination with them inspired his artworks. In this series of works, one can rarely spot a human, for the primary focus remains on the aesthetic of nature, giving the audience a chance to ponder and appreciate the scenic terrain. In this series, he uses mixed natural media, such as straw, spices, dry flowers, and plants experimenting with color and texture. The result is a distinct surface and memorable feelings that carry us to Palestine despite all the borders.