Ayyam Gallery Beirut is pleased to present Civilised Society, the solo show of Syrian painter Kais Salman.Debuting the artist's latest body of work, the exhibition will feature paintings that satirically explore the realm of politics in the Arab world through its various archetypes.Deconstructing the historical tradition of portraiture as a demonstration of power or social status, Salman scrutinises the public posturing of political figures-from armchair activists to international delegates.
At the same time, the new series demonstrates a shift in Salman's painting style as he employs a brilliant palette with a combination of expressionism and realism and introduces vividly described settings.These formal elements draw the viewer into each composition as mundane trappings surround monstrous figures.In The Anonymous Arab(2014), for example, a protagonist is enlivened by painterly brushmarks as he holds a meticulously rendered mask of the international hacktivist group.Outfitted in a tuxedo while lounging on an antique sofa, he is portrayed as a self-assured dandy experiencing a life of privilege.
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