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Lot Essay
This is a very impressive memento mori by Marwan, who opted for the subject matter of fruits and flowers in a state of decay—they are alive but not for long.
Marwan hearkens back to ideas very popular in the seventeenth century during a period where everyone was preoccupied with answering the questions of life on earth and the mysteries of the afterlife. This modern artist’s use of this subject is also within the context of him questioning the fate of the Arab nations in the 1970s, in a religious age when almost everyone believed that life on earth was merely a preparation for an afterlife. However, modern artists have continued to explore this genre.
Internationally acclaimed for his stylistic, post-Surrealist approaches to portraiture and still life, Marwan has successfully infused his works with colours and bold expressions that embody their own sense of lyricism and poeticism. In the present work, the artist uses this technique to highlight distinct features while abstracted certain defined characteristics. His expressiveness within his works becomes freer and larger in scale with the use of extremely heavy and visual brush strokes. These bold strokes of paint add to the dimensionality of the objects present within the artwork where they are depicted to be rather flat but would be considered to have more focus than the background. The artist uses the technique of overlaying paint which in return leads to the overall abstraction further morphing the objects in and out of the paint.
Originally from Syria but spending most of his life in Germany, Marwan adapted the styles and techniques that surrounded him. However, he took this opportunity to learn from the West and applied it to what he thought needed more attention. Becoming of the best of his generation, Marwan became the first Arab member of the distinguished Akademie der Künste of Germany. A little later, during the late 1950s and early 60’s, Marwan’s works revolved around visualizing portraits of friends, poets and politicians, as well as himself. The ideals of his work very often addressed his views on human rights in Syria, Iraq and Palestine.
Marwan began his journey in the art world after studying Arabic literature at Damascus University after which he moved to Europe in 1957 where he began to learn and teach painting in Berlin. Marwan has successfully exhibited in numerous locations within Germany and internationally. His complex works are what have become an attraction as masterpieces globally.
Marwan hearkens back to ideas very popular in the seventeenth century during a period where everyone was preoccupied with answering the questions of life on earth and the mysteries of the afterlife. This modern artist’s use of this subject is also within the context of him questioning the fate of the Arab nations in the 1970s, in a religious age when almost everyone believed that life on earth was merely a preparation for an afterlife. However, modern artists have continued to explore this genre.
Internationally acclaimed for his stylistic, post-Surrealist approaches to portraiture and still life, Marwan has successfully infused his works with colours and bold expressions that embody their own sense of lyricism and poeticism. In the present work, the artist uses this technique to highlight distinct features while abstracted certain defined characteristics. His expressiveness within his works becomes freer and larger in scale with the use of extremely heavy and visual brush strokes. These bold strokes of paint add to the dimensionality of the objects present within the artwork where they are depicted to be rather flat but would be considered to have more focus than the background. The artist uses the technique of overlaying paint which in return leads to the overall abstraction further morphing the objects in and out of the paint.
Originally from Syria but spending most of his life in Germany, Marwan adapted the styles and techniques that surrounded him. However, he took this opportunity to learn from the West and applied it to what he thought needed more attention. Becoming of the best of his generation, Marwan became the first Arab member of the distinguished Akademie der Künste of Germany. A little later, during the late 1950s and early 60’s, Marwan’s works revolved around visualizing portraits of friends, poets and politicians, as well as himself. The ideals of his work very often addressed his views on human rights in Syria, Iraq and Palestine.
Marwan began his journey in the art world after studying Arabic literature at Damascus University after which he moved to Europe in 1957 where he began to learn and teach painting in Berlin. Marwan has successfully exhibited in numerous locations within Germany and internationally. His complex works are what have become an attraction as masterpieces globally.