12|11|08 | SAME STORY… DIFFERENT PEOPLE
Essam Marouf, an internationally recognised portrait artist will be exhibiting his latest collection of works at the brand new artsawa gallery in Al Quoz, Dubai from 12th November 2008.
Born in 1958, Cairo, Egypt, Essam Marouf has showcased his works all over the world, with exhibitions including, “Eeuwig Kwetsbaar” at the Provinciaal Museum Begijnhofkerk St. Truiden in Belgium and “Um Kalthoum" at the L’Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France. His unique portrait interpretations are sure to be a hit in the region and this latest exhibition, which marks the first time that he has had an exhibition in the UAE, represents a special opportunity for the region’s art lovers. According to Marouf, who now divides his time between Egypt and the Netherlands, “The portrait never went out of fashion.”
Speaking about his forthcoming exhibition at artsawa he commented, “It is probably the favourite subject of all in the history of painting and artists still see possibilities to create something new when reproducing the human head. In addition, the portrait has always been an opportunity for stories or reflections and I’m extremely excited to be able to show my latest portrait works to the people of the region.”
The portrait has always been and still remains the preferred subject for Essam Marouf. His works are characterized by clear precision of form and the absence of any visible references to paint texture. However, he is able to express a degree of sensitivity in the face aided by the application of clear tones and the way in which the canvasses’ structure is suggested. Marouf’s works are solidly two-dimensional and maintain minimal anatomy with a Byzantine frontality, a dramatic immediacy that can be found in the works of Giotto and Warhol.
This will be the first solo exhibition to be shown at the brand new artsawa gallery in Al Quoz.
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