Placing equal emphasis on form and subject matter,Abdul Karim Majdal Al-Beik is primarily known for transforming unconventional materials such as charcoal, plaster, starch, into evocative media to reproduce the patina of imbued surfaces. Inspired by the weathered layers of graffiti, marks, and cracks that are found on the exteriors of public spaces, his abstracted mixed-media paintings suggest how these understated facets record the oscillation of a society over time.
Since the start of the war in Syria, Majdal Al-Beik’s artistic practice has reflected greater use of assemblage in order to communicate the stark circumstances of life under the conflict. Other post-uprising works include a series of conceptual sculptures, installations, paintings, and photographs titled Postponed Democracy (2014) that references the unsettled political contexts of the Arab world.
Born in Al-Hasakah, Syria in 1973, Majdal Al-Beik studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Damascus. His works are housed in public and private collections throughout the Middle East and Europe. Early on in his career, he was the recipient of several art prizes, including awards from the Latakia Biennale and the Shabab Ayyam competition for emerging artists.