“In my opinion, the status of women in society is the most important standard by which one measures how advanced a society is.”
– Fahed Halabi
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The East is generally distinguished by its magical colors, bright sun, its cultural and ethnic diversity, beautiful nature and diverse topography, delicious cuisine and spices. But this magic withers and colors begin to grow pale and slowly transform into gray and then into black when the three taboos of religion, politics and sex are introduced. It is a society that is governed by the Kingdom of Heaven, expressed through masculine thought and obsolete traditions derived from religion and tribal and familial particularisms. Colors dissipate when we think of women’s rights, especially sexual rights, because such thoughts are considered forbidden and taboos and the mere reference to such rights is criminalized.
The beginnings of this project – exhibit – date back to the early 2000’s. Through it I try to express first, my personal experience – as someone who grew in a religious family – and second, the general reality Arab and Eastern women live in, woman’s relationship to herself and her body, and to man at the same time. My sense of solidarity with my mother and sister and defending women’s rights is among my primary motivations to start and continue this project, while being fully aware of my position as an Eastern man who grew up in the East.
Expressional painting is the dominant style which defines these paintings, but it transforms to abstract painting in some instances. As for the subject matter of the paintings, it avoids human form and focuses on subjects of nature.
Eastern Monochrome, is a unique experience that I live and through which I test my self, and it is subject to constant continuity and development.
Woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 80 x 110 cm, 2000
Girl, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 90 x 125 cm, 2000
Woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 70 x 110 cm, 2000
Woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 80 x 100 cm, 2002
Woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 80 x 110 cm, 2000
Woman, Mixed media on canvas, 120 x 162 cm, 2000
Woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 80 x 110 cm, 2000
Woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 70 x 100 cm, 2000
Couple, Acrylic and oil on canvas, 162 x 130 cm, 2009
Spying woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 50 x 40 cm, 2014
Couple, Lacquer and acrylic on canvas, 65 x 65 cm, 2014
Sheikh, Mixed media on canvas, 40 x 30 cm, 2014
Woman, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 40 x 60 cm, 2017
Man, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 65 x 65 cm, 2014
Couple, Mixed media on canvas, 18 x 24 cm, 2015
Women, Acrylic and tar on canvas, 120 x 150 cm, 2001
Bride, Mixed media, 20 x 30 cm, 2014
Man, Mixed media, 20 x 30 cm, 2014
Untitled, Mixed media, 30 x 20 cm, 2012
Untitled, Mixed media on canvas, 20 x 30 cm, 2015
Untitled, Acryl on canvas, 30 x 40, 2015
Untitled, Lacquer on paper, 14 x 20, 2013
Untitled, Lacquer on cardboard, 40 x 40, 2012
Untitled, Laquer on paper, 20 x 15 cm, 2013
Untitled, Laquer on paper, 30 x 30 cm, 2012