Artbooth Gallery is home to Echoes of Elsewhere, a solo exhibition by renowned Syrian artist Noor Bahjat which allows one to dive into a mesmerising world where memory, urban landscapes, and identity intertwine. Curated by Christina Kirkham, the exhibition will be open to the public until 16 February 2025.
Echoes of Elsewhere features eleven of Bahjat’s thought-provoking compositions that beckon visitors to reflect on themes of loss, resilience, and the enduring spirit of place. The artist employs vibrant textures and bold contrasts to produce layered paintings that balance light and shadow, unveiling complex narratives beneath their surfaces.
Among the exhibited works are vivid urban scenes cloaked in darkness and then rediscovered, symbolising truths hidden beneath time and turmoil. Bahjat reconstructs her memories of Damascus, her hometown, utilising a collage technique. Incorporating messages of peace and unity, these collages pay tribute to the city’s indomitable spirit. Gloomy cityscapes contrast flourishing European cities with the invisible sacrifices of displaced communities, prompting reflections on resilience and exploitation. On view are also circular compositions that blend architecture, the elements of the natural world, and the ethereal, portraying a harmonious, surreal realm.
Bahjat’s creative process begins with meticulous sketches, which she then obscures in darkness, only to rediscover them through an act of deconstruction. This transformative approach pushes the boundaries of traditional visual storytelling, using texture, colour, and form to express loss and revelation.
About the artist
Noor Bahjat (b. 1991) is a distinguished graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Damascus (2014) who lives and works in the UAE. Her work delves into themes of displacement, migration, identity, memory, and cultural heritage. Bahjat’s expressionist, figurative style often incorporates detailed sketches and self-portraits, focusing on everyday moments. Through her textured compositions, which brim with various recurring symbols, she encourages viewers to ponder the complexities of the human experience, unearthing intricate layers of time, place, and identity.
Bahjat has showcased her creations in many exhibitions and art events, including the Sikka Art Fair Dubai (2024); Hajimemashite! (Bridge Mogura Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2023); You are not alone (Salon Am Moritzplatz, Berlin, Germany, 2021); and Beirut Art Fair (2016), to name a few. Bahjat has also participated in several art residency programmes at the Cultural Foundation (Abu Dhabi, 2024), Sputnik Partners (Munich, Germany, 2023), Galerie Stephanie (Manila, Philippines, 2016), and Ayyam Gallery (Dubai, 2014-2015).
The artist’s works are part of notable public collections (the Barjeel Art Foundation (Sharjah) and Khaleeji Art Museum) as well as private collections in Syria, the UAE, Italy, Lebanon, Philippines, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and Kuwait.
To get more information about Echoes of Elsewhere, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
In addition, you might be interested in exploring Colour Gives Me Life, a group show at Firetti Contemporary.
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