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‘Figurative Art in Jordan’ hosts 223 artworks exclusively by local artists
Huda Dabeet, Jordan News
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Presenting 120 Jordanian artists and featuring 223 of their artworks is the
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Art’s current exhibition, “Figurative Art in
Jordan”. The exhibition, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Wijdan
Al-Hashemi, was opened on August 24 by Minister of Culture Haifa Najjar.اضافة اعلان
Representing both the established and up-and-coming artists, artwork in this exhibition includes pieces from the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts ‘ permanent collection, as well as new, emerging artists’ work.
Various mediums, including drawing, painting, photography, sculptures, and ceramics, among others, are displayed with varying subjects and methods as well. Meanwhile, materials included mixed media on paper, acrylic on paper, oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, oil on wood, mixed media on wood, olive wood, basalt, fiberglass, mixed media on canvas, silkscreen, silicon fur and polystyrene, bronze, watercolor on paper, gouache on canvas, pastel on paper, ceramics, Ajloun stone, gypsum, etching, graphite on paper, digital print, iron on a wooden base, amongst others.
Public Relations and Information Manager at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts Khalil Majali told Jordan News that all artists participating in the exhibition are Jordanian. Some artworks, he said, date back to 1960, while others were created this year.
“Ninety-nine percent of the artworks displayed in the exhibition are from the gallery’s permanent collection, and a small part of the works displayed are from youth artists,” Majali mentioned.
Majali said that figurative art allows each artist to display a subject in their unique way and style.
While the exhibition was about figurative art this year, he said that in the coming years, the art type would vary.
Mahmoud Atyat, a Jordanian artist and one of the participants, expressed to Jordan News his gratitude to Princess Wijdan and the culture minister. “Wherever you find women, you find colors and life,” he said.
Atyat hailed the art exhibition for being “rich” and providing something for everyone.
“These exhibitions, in my opinion, play an important role in promoting Jordanian artists and bringing attention to the personal, psychological, and intellectual societal experiences,” Atyat mentioned.
His artwork, which was displayed in the exhibition entitled “A Message to the World,” included a sculpture of a child with an innocent face in a body of a rabbit toy.
The idea came to him after a long day at work, “I saw myself as a child who plays with the rest of the children in the neighborhood — a child whose biggest dreams were to play infinitely. And my biggest worry was for anyone to rob me of this right. So I began to embody this idea with this work. I illustrated this child in the body of a gentle, innocent, and naughty rabbit at the same time.”
“This child is a rabbit who does not see the difficulty of life and its limitations. Meanwhile, there is me who has no choice but to struggle in this life as a Jordanian or any Arab youngster. I used this artwork as my hope for the simple, innocent, and calm life, which is filled with the colors of childhood and joy.“
The artist added that the goal of his work is to stick with viewers, to elicit the same reaction as the rabbit that accompanied Alice in Wonderland, nestling in the corners of viewers’ hearts in sincerity and nostalgia.
The child’s face holds a sad expression, which Atyat stated is where he and the art merge. “If the child had sculpted himself, he would have painted himself happy. But, I am the sculptor. I am the one who carries this sadness.”
Majali stated that the exhibition will be running until March 2023.
Read more Culture and Arts
Jordan News
Representing both the established and up-and-coming artists, artwork in this exhibition includes pieces from the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts ‘ permanent collection, as well as new, emerging artists’ work.
Various mediums, including drawing, painting, photography, sculptures, and ceramics, among others, are displayed with varying subjects and methods as well. Meanwhile, materials included mixed media on paper, acrylic on paper, oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, oil on wood, mixed media on wood, olive wood, basalt, fiberglass, mixed media on canvas, silkscreen, silicon fur and polystyrene, bronze, watercolor on paper, gouache on canvas, pastel on paper, ceramics, Ajloun stone, gypsum, etching, graphite on paper, digital print, iron on a wooden base, amongst others.
Public Relations and Information Manager at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts Khalil Majali told Jordan News that all artists participating in the exhibition are Jordanian. Some artworks, he said, date back to 1960, while others were created this year.
“Ninety-nine percent of the artworks displayed in the exhibition are from the gallery’s permanent collection, and a small part of the works displayed are from youth artists,” Majali mentioned.
Majali said that figurative art allows each artist to display a subject in their unique way and style.
While the exhibition was about figurative art this year, he said that in the coming years, the art type would vary.
Mahmoud Atyat, a Jordanian artist and one of the participants, expressed to Jordan News his gratitude to Princess Wijdan and the culture minister. “Wherever you find women, you find colors and life,” he said.
Atyat hailed the art exhibition for being “rich” and providing something for everyone.
“These exhibitions, in my opinion, play an important role in promoting Jordanian artists and bringing attention to the personal, psychological, and intellectual societal experiences,” Atyat mentioned.
His artwork, which was displayed in the exhibition entitled “A Message to the World,” included a sculpture of a child with an innocent face in a body of a rabbit toy.
The idea came to him after a long day at work, “I saw myself as a child who plays with the rest of the children in the neighborhood — a child whose biggest dreams were to play infinitely. And my biggest worry was for anyone to rob me of this right. So I began to embody this idea with this work. I illustrated this child in the body of a gentle, innocent, and naughty rabbit at the same time.”
“This child is a rabbit who does not see the difficulty of life and its limitations. Meanwhile, there is me who has no choice but to struggle in this life as a Jordanian or any Arab youngster. I used this artwork as my hope for the simple, innocent, and calm life, which is filled with the colors of childhood and joy.“
The artist added that the goal of his work is to stick with viewers, to elicit the same reaction as the rabbit that accompanied Alice in Wonderland, nestling in the corners of viewers’ hearts in sincerity and nostalgia.
The child’s face holds a sad expression, which Atyat stated is where he and the art merge. “If the child had sculpted himself, he would have painted himself happy. But, I am the sculptor. I am the one who carries this sadness.”
Majali stated that the exhibition will be running until March 2023.
Read more Culture and Arts
Jordan News
