From November 20 – December 31, Ayyam Gallery Damascus will proudly present Guillotine, the solo show of internationally recognized Syrian sculptor Moustafa Ali. Highlighting a new collection, the exhibition will feature oversized wooden sculptures that have been executed with Ali’s celebrated approach.
Deeply expressive, his solemn figurative works maintain a subdued yet haunting presence. With decapitated heads appearing as forgotten relics, the artist simultaneously emphasizes an affecting absence. What remains are the faces of anonymous subjects— soulless, bodiless forms whose features seem to recede as the unspoken lingers. Employing a labored process in which the rawness of wood is treated with a bronze-like finish, Ali accentuates the natural contours of his medium while creating a dramatic patina-like surface that lends to a timeless appearance. Guillotine a tongue-in-cheek reference to the unusual character of these recent sculptures, also points to their metaphoric duality.