Ayyam Gallery Jeddah is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Syrian artist, Mohannad Orabi from 27 February - 11 April 2013. The exhibition will inaugurate the gallery’s first location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will present new works by this important contemporary Middle-Eastern artist.
Orabi’s embellished figures emanate a childlike innocence, reflecting his fascination with childhood experiences. In a response to the changing mood and turmoil in the region, the vibrant colouring and playfulness of his early work has gradually been replaced by an increasingly somber palette and expressive maturity. Where once his figures possessed otherworldly exaggerated features - bulky heads, expressionless and hollowed almond-shaped eyes, and full figures - they have become more clearly defined, with eyes that are noticeably marked with sadness. His characters are no longer able to remain divorced from events unfolding around them. Instead, they are now fully aware and firmly rooted in their tumultuous reality.