Ayyam Gallery Beirut is pleased to announce the forthcoming solo exhibition of Syrian artist Nihad Al Turk. Opening on May 5, Daily Myths will present a new series of works by the young painter. Expanding the symbolist themes that dominated his previous canvases, Al Turk builds upon a complex system of symbols and imagery, one that is driven by anthropomorphic representations that speak of the inherent flaws of mankind.
Maintaining a philosophical standpoint, he frequently makes misshapen, unidentifiable characters or objects the focus of his compositions. With a cool palette of soft tones, Al Turk’s wraithlike paintings often offer meditations on the still-life form as comments on the state of humanity. Injecting these images with fervent allegory, they speak of a world where betrayal and isolation stand in contrast to life-sustaining elements such as fruit. These subjects reappear from one composition to another, reinstating their relevance as though suggesting the presence of a plagued existence.
In his latest canvases, the artist’s monster-like, unidentifiable subjects reemerge, this time with a more menacing appearance. Yet these recent works revolve around a different image—that of a robust tree. Perhaps it is the tree of life, presenting a more optimistic view of man, although in some instances its shape is reminiscent of a nuclear mushroom cloud, its top-heavy outline mirroring his distorted figures.
Born in Aleppo, Syria in 1972, Nihad Al Turk has developed a mature painting style against all odds. With no academic training but several years of practice and experimentation behind him, he has established himself within the contemporary Syrian art scene over the course of a few years. With participation in a number of group exhibitions at venues such as Ayyam Gallery (Damascus and Dubai), Beirut’s UNESCO palace, and the Park Avenue Armory in New York, his profile has quickly risen. Accordingly, he has held solo exhibitions in leading art spaces in Syria and Turkey and has been featured in a number of events abroad such as Art Palm beach and Miami International Art Fair.
