From March 31 till May 26, 2010 Ayyam gallery Beirut will proudly present the solo show of Syrian artist Khaled Takreti. Presenting an electrifying new body of work, the artist’s bold, cutting-edge canvases are sure to rock the regional art scene.
Despite the striking nature of his work, Takreti’s art is deeply personal and highly introspective. “My painting is like a diary to me,” says the artist. “Scenes of my life are summarized in it. The heroines and heroes are taken from my family and friends; the scenes are experienced or desired; that is the reason why the characters can be real or fictional.” While previous paintings explored notions of memory and time inspired by the loving familial relationships of the artist’s childhood, his recent work proceeds to his 1970s adolescence in Damascus. Bright, colourful canvases with a psychedelic feel speak of a particular carefree existence. Of this latest series the artist explains, “The general theme is my teenage years: I play, I jump, I dance, I am with my friends, and finally I am surrounded by my family. Some scenes are also warm and full of love and humour.” Not only has his palette become increasingly daring, his figures now seem to leap from the canvas with an irresistible flamboyance. Takreti has become all the more ambitious. With this greater confidence has come a vibrant new body of work that is refreshingly original.
