Dubai exhibition displays hidden talents of Arab masters of modernism

Dip into any publication on modern Arab masters and you will come across the name of Fateh Moudarres. The late Syrian painter, who studied in Rome in the 1950s, is considered the pioneer of modernism in the Arab world.

Yet, while distinctive squared-off figures populate most of his paintings, his sketches and works on paper reveal another side to him and his practice, and they are far less frequently exhibited.

That is one of the reasons that Works on Paper: Hikayat, an exhibition that brings together more than 50 works on paper by modern Arab artists at Green Art Gallery in Dubai, is so significant.

“People tend to underestimate the significance of drawing in an artist’s career,” says Yasmin Atassi, the manager of the gallery. “The first aspect of this show is to underline its importance.” The second, she continues, was to put the spotlight back on modernism.

Modern vs contemporary

Modern art is still a commonly misunderstood term.

Although it may sound the same, modern art is not synonymous with contemporary art. In fact, it spans the years from the 1860s to the 1970s, although in Arab terms, it is generally considered to be only the latter half of this period.

Very few galleries today focus on modern art, mostly because they are all new and modern Arab art is not so easy to access – another thing that makes this show special.

Original article by Anna Seaman

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Dubai exhibition displays hidden talents of Arab masters of modernism