*** ----> Renowned artist’s solo exhibition to be held | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Renowned artist’s solo exhibition to be held

Albareh Art Gallery announced the opening of Suakin, a solo exhibition of the latest works of one of Arab World’s leading contemporary artists, Mohammad Omar Khalil, at its Adliya premises from January 12 to February 4.    

Khalil is known for both his masterful black and white prints as well as his large, colourful mixed media paintings. It will be a collection of the latter that will be displayed at Suakin.   

Having lived in a number of cities across the world, Khalil maintains deep emotional bonds with all the places that he has called ‘home’ over the years.  It is these complex, multilayered bonds that manifest in his paintings.  

In this exhibition, Khalil pays tribute to his memory of Suakin, an ancient port city in northeastern Sudan.  Today, the old city is in ruins but the remnants of the coral buildings hint at a past opulence that goes back to pharaonic times.  

The city’s fortunes rose and fell with those of ancient Egypt and Greece, then rose to prominence again with the Islamic penetration of Africa, Ottoman Empire and British colonialism.  

It is against this rich historical backdrop that a young Khalil painted early in his career and it is these memories that flood on to his rich tapestries in his latest exhibition.

Khalil was born in Khartoum, Sudan, in 1936 and has lived and worked in New York City since 1967. Profoundly influenced by his travels throughout the Middle East – in particular Morocco and Sudan – and the art history of Europe that he became immersed in during his studies in Italy, Omar Khalil has brought to life a pioneering form of art, in which elements and patterns from tradition merge with pop art and fine prints.

Opening reception will be held on January 12 from 7 – 9pm.