Until 5 January 2025, Ayyam Gallery is displaying the latest creations of Syrian abstract artist Thaier Helal in a compelling exhibition titled Navigating Through Nothing. The show draws from The Myth of Sisyphus by French philosopher and author Albert Camus, delving into absurdism and focusing on the human quest for meaning in an indifferent universe.
Helal’s latest works offer viewers to engage intuitively, with each brushstroke narrating its story. Through textured layers of light and shadow, his art pieces create abstract spaces that symbolise love, life, hope, and the intricate complexities of existence. Resonating with nature’s cyclical patterns, such as growth, decay, and renewal, the works explore profound themes of mortality and the human condition.
About the artist
Thaier Helal (b. 1967, Syria) graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Damascus in 1991. In the 1990s, he moved to Sharjah, where he currently resides. Helal served as a Senior Member at the Sharjah Arts Institute (Department of Culture and Information) in 1997 and later taught as a professor at the University of Sharjah’s College of Fine Arts and Design from 2005 to 2015.
Renowned for his experimental approach to art, Helal often seamlessly blends painting and assemblage, incorporating various materials into his practice. After relocating to the UAE, he developed innovative techniques using unconventional elements such as glue, sand, and coal to capture the tactile and sensory essence of his environment.
Helal’s creative process often begins with a structured grid serving as a foundation for layered compositions in mixed media. This meticulous process reflects his deep engagement with the patterns of nature and the dynamics of space, shaped by social and cultural transformations. Over time, Helal’s style evolved into more fluid and spontaneous strokes, emphasising immediacy and authenticity. Through vibrant bursts of color and expressive brushwork, Helal conveys movement and energy, often drawing inspiration from organic forms.
Helal has also experimented with different printmaking techniques. The artist’s recent pieces incorporate found objects like plastic beads and miniature toys, critiquing the impact of globalisation, consumerism, and power dynamics.
The artist has displayed his creations in a plethora of exhibitions, including In the Footsteps of Cai Lun II, Selected Works on Paper (Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, 2022); Landmarks (solo) (Ayyam Gallery, London, UK, 2015); Alexandria Biennale (Cairo, Egypt, 2009); International Symposium of Contemporary Art (Carei, Romania, 2006); and Asian Art Biennale (Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2002), among many others. Helal’s works have been acquired by major private and public collections, such as the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Collection (Dubai) and the Ministry of Culture (Damascus, Syria).
Helal has received multiple accolades, which include the Al Burda International Award (Ministry of Culture, Dubai, 2008), the Grand Gold Award at the Contemporary Painting Biennial (Tehran, Iran, 2005), the Award for Painting at the Sharjah International Biennial (1997).
To get more information about Navigating Through Nothing, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
You might also be interested in attending After The Machine by the art collective Random International and American artist Addie Wagenknecht.
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