Rafa al-Nasiri (1940-2013) is one of the outstanding painters from Iraq famous for his social and political messages. He was born in Tikrit and studied at Baghdad’s Institute of Fine Arts (Station Museum, n.d.). He also attended Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Arts in China (“Brief Bio,” n.d.). The knowledge and visions acquired there influenced a painter and formulation of a unique style. For instance, inspired by Chinese art, al-Nasiri started to combine saturated colors and gestural lines to embody the inner vision of an artist and his interest in poetry (The British Museum, n.d.). This element of his creativity became one of the outstanding features associated with the artist.
At the same time, Rafa Nasiri is known for combining abstract works, nature, and Arabic calligraphy as the leading sources of inspiration and ways to reflect his inner sates (The British Museum, n.d.). The author’s recognition and important place in the cultural life are evidenced by his influence on young artists (Station Museum. (n.d.).). Additionally, al-Nasiri became a founding member of the New Vision group (“Rafa Al Nasiri,” n.d.). The creator also helped to launch a printmaking studio at Darat al Funin in the 1990s (“Brief Bio,” n.d.). Special touring exhibitions such as Strokes of Genius: Contemporary Iraqi Art in London and Dafatir: Contemporary Iraqi Book Art in Texas familiarized the viewers across the world with his creativity and contribution to the development of the Middle-Eastern school of art (The British Museum, n.d.). In such a way, Rafa Narisi can be viewed as an outstanding Iraqi painter who managed to create his own unique style combining elements of different cultures, visions of nature, and the inner world of the creator. This combination contributed to the formation of a recognizable and unusual character of his works.
Hassan Massoudy
Hassan Massoudy (1944) is a famous Iraqi painter, calligrapher, and artist who is viewed as one of the brightest representatives of this genre. He was born in Najaf, in a traditional society that allowed him to inherit the traditional culture peculiar to the region. After moving to Baghdad in 1961, Massoudy started to cooperate with famous calligraphers and discovered his talent in this sphere (Pergamonmuseum, 2021). Due to his creativity and unusual vision, the artist managed to renown the traditional use of Arabic calligraphy and contributed to its increased recognition in the world (“Hassan Massoudy,” n.d.b.). One of the distinctive features of Massoudy’s creativity is the use of famous writers, philosophers, and writers’ texts in his artworks (“Hassan Massoudy,” n.d.a). Combining the elements of Western and Eastern culture, the artist managed to establish a new approach to calligraphy and influence numerous artists (Pergamonmuseum, 2021). Followers admit his role as the source of inspiration and contribution to developing this type of art.
In 1969 Massoudy moved to Paris because of the military conflicts in this country. This fact also influenced his style and works. He became a member of Ecole des Beaux-Arts and studied classical Western approaches to art (Pergamonmuseum, 2021). He received his degree in 1975 and started experimenting with styles while traveling across Europe. The artist’s importance is proven by multiple exhibitions presenting his works to viewers in different parts of the world. For instance, Words, Breath, Gesture, in Sundaram Tagore Gallery in New York, or Contemporary Takes on Mark Making in Hong Kong contain his outstanding artworks and familiarize individuals with the unique style (Ocula, n.d.). Altogether, the artist is famous for his contribution to the development of calligraphy and its combination with specific motifs.
Hussein Madi
Hussein Madi (1938) is a painter, sculptor, and printmaker who was born in Lebanon. He started to learn art in Beirut at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, which helped him to acquire the correct understanding of the local style and its peculiarities. At the same time, he continued his education in Rome at the Academia di Belle Arti (MarkHachem, 2019). Traveling between these two cities in the second half of the 20th century, the artist extensively researched Arabic culture, Egypt, and their cultures. It also became a vital contribution to his creativity, as in his abstract designs of Islamic art, he used the motifs of the past and inspirations from the traditional styles (“Hussein Madi,” 2021). In most of his artworks, Hussein Madi uses an unusual approach to colors and shapes, combining them in ways similar to Picasso or Matisse’s ones (“Hussein Madi,” n.d.). It results in the creation of a unique image of his creativity and their high recognizability. Additionally, Arabic shapes and elements are repeated numerous times to emphasize the principle of divine harmony peculiar to this culture (MarkHachem, 2019). It made his works different from others.
Madi’s first exhibits in Europe appeared in 1965 and became popular among viewers. The British Museum, the Venice Biennale, and Tokyo (MarkHachem, 2019). After his return to Lebanon in 1981, the artist started to teach sculpture, art, and engraving at the Institute of Fine Arts of the Lebanese University (Tabari Artspace, n.d.). In such a way, his creativity and art influenced numerous people across the world, and, moreover, he managed to share his ideas with students, who became followers of this unique style (Tabari Artspace, n.d.). He became one of the famous artists of the modern world.
Moneer Al Shaarani
Mouneer Al-Shaarani is a graphic artist born in Syria in 1952. At the moment, he specializes in Arabic calligraphy and focuses on using it in his artworks. At 15, he started learning calligraphy from a famous Syrian artist, Muhammad Badawi Al-Dirany (“Artists of Damascus,” 2018). It became an important stage in the evolution of an artist and the formation of his unique style (“Mouneer Al-Shaarani,” n.d.). Researchers and art critiques emphasize that Al-Shaarani combines ancient forms with his visions (Sharjah Art Foundation, n.d.). For instance, Kairouan Kuffic, Square Kuffic, or Maghrebi scripts can be found in most of his outstanding artworks (). At the same time, the texts also come from the representatives of the Arabic tradition (“Artists of Damascus,” 2018). It makes his creativity one of the essential aspects of the Middle-Eastern cultural heritage.
Al-Shaarani also studied Fine Arts at Damascus University to acquire a better understanding of techniques and methods that can be used while creating artworks. He is also known as the designer of a number of Arabic typefaces appearing on the covers of his books (“Artists of Damascus,” 2018). The global recognition of the artist and his unique style are evidenced by multiple exhibitions in Europe, Middle East, the USA, and Australia (Freiraum, 2018). For instance, the Rietberg Museum in Zurich provided viewers with an opportunity to see Al-Shaarani’s works (Sharjah Art Foundation, n.d.). The artist also points out that he uses calligraphy to inspire all people in Syria, which now passes through hard times (Freiraum, 2018). In such a way, Al-Shaarani is an outstanding representative of calligraphic art who uses Arabic motifs. His creativity influences other creators who also try to employ similar motifs and contribute to the development of the genre.
Talal Moualla
Talal Moualla is another bright representative of modern art. He was born in Syria in 1952, meaning that he managed to understand the culture of the Eastern world and its unique visions (“About the artist,” n.d.). He studied both in Syria and Italy to acquire new techniques and forms (“About the artist,” n.d.). He is known for combining different elements in art and trying to invite viewers for communication (“About the artist,” n.d.). The artist states that his figurative compositions can be understood and interpreted differently, meaning that their discussion is the only method to follow the creator’s idea (Lord, 2008). Using acrylics on canvas, the painter creates unusual images that inspire all viewers and make them think about the messages reflected on these artworks (“Talal Moualla,” n.d.). The artist remains popular today and follows his own unique technique.
The vital role Talal Moualla plays in the world of art today is also evidenced by solo exhibitions organized in the UAE, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Germany, and France (“About the artist,” n.d.). These events attracted the attention of the publicity and other artists, serving as the platforms for discussing new ideas and styles. Moualla is also one of the founders of the Sharjah Biennial and Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial (“About the artist,” n.d.). At the same time, he is famous for publishing articles and books devoted to the theme of art, which turns him into one of the major contributors to the development of Art and its criticism in the Arabic world (Lord, 2008). In such a way, Talal Moualla can be viewed as one of the important figures with the unusual style and desire to change the current vision of art towards a new, more relevant one and attract attention to the unique culture of the Middle East.
Rabab Nemr
Rabab Nemr represents the Egyptian art school with its visions and adherence to traditional elements of style. The artist was born in 1938 in Alexandria, which became a critically important place for the creator (Zamalek Art Gallery, 2005). She studied at Alexandria University, at the faculty of Fine Arts (Zamalek Art Gallery, 2005). Continuing this education, Nemr became a Doctor of Art after she graduated from the San Fernando Academy (Zamalek Art Gallery, 2005). A solid knowledge base and information about various styles and approaches existing in the modern world provided Nemr with a chance to create her own unique vision. She devotes much attention to detail, as using small strokes, she manages to create large pieces reflecting the central idea of the work (Zamalek Art Gallery, 2005). Mixing colored and black and white works, she manages to preserve the high level of interest in her works and provide viewers with a chance to think about images they see.
Using ink and paper, Nemr creates masterpieces that are recognized by modern critics and other artists. Most of her works are one-dimensional and have simple lines that help to create a complete and more sophisticated image (Zamalek Art Gallery, n.d.). This approach differentiates her from colleagues and serves as her most distinctive feature. The interest in the artist is evidenced by the fact that she took part in numerous recent exhibitions, such as The Collector’s Eye VIII in Ubuntu Art Gallery and Masterpieces XX, Zamalek Art Gallery (Benneton Foundation, 2015). Her works were also displayed at Rome Academy Art Gallery in Italy (Benneton Foundation, 2015). In such a way, Rabab Nemr is one of the bright representatives of modern art.
Hassan Soliman
Hassan Soliman is an outstanding Egyptian painter who became popular and recognized at the global level. The artist was born in 1928, and in 1951 he obtained the graduate degree from the Cairo School of Fine Arts (Artland, n.d.). The desire to continue education impacted his decision to move to Milan in 1966 to study at the Academia di Belle Arti di Brera (Artland, n.d.). After the artist’s return to Egypt, he taught students at the Egyptian Open University (Artland, n.d.). It helped the artist to share his vision with numerous followers and inspire them. He died in 2008; however, his works still attract people.
One of the distinctive features of his style is the fusion of details to focus on the whole (Artland, n.d.). Using the minimal degrees of shade, making black and white colors richer, Soliman managed to create unique visions and pictures (“Hassan Soliman (1928-2009),” n.d.). Another distinctive feature is the love for still nature, light, and shades on surfaces (Artland, n.d.). These elements distinguish the author from the rest ones and make his pictures recognizable. His artworks were exhibited in Ubuntu Art Gallery and Zamalek (“Hassan Soliman,” n.d.). Hassan Soliman remains one of the prominent Egyptian artists who promoted the development of its culture.
References
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Hassan Massoudy. (n.d.b). Artsy.
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Hassan Soliman (1928-2009). (n.d.). Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
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Lord, C. (2008). In the studio: Tala Moualla. TimeOut.
MarkHachem. (2019). Hussein Madi.
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Zamalek Art Gallery. (2005). Rabab Nemr. Artist Biography.