Title: Upon A Chess Floor.
Year: July 1999.
Materials: Acrylic and oil on canvas.
Behind the Brush: When we are trapped in a two-walled room with no window or pane to pass through, we tend to draw a door. The door would lead us to another, and when we face it, we draw another. The continuous drawing of the door with the continuous confrontation of the wall is a common life-felt theme, but what makes it original and authentic is the number of risks faced, kinds of quandaries challenged, and the heaps of dangerous verdicts and judgments one has to make and make with haste to level up at the right time.
In this dear-to-heart painting, I am trying to give a three-dimensional scope of life. It came to actuality when I was with my cousin in Aleppo. We had heard that there was an old Chess Coffee-Shop. The idea was tempting, especially when we still in the mood for playing chess. We sought the cafe, found it, climbed its wide stairs and were welcomed by a youngster. He led us to a large room filled with several chess tables. Men, smoke, old chess and backgammon’s pieces, the fresh smell of tea, the burnt coffee … all combined to create an infinite impression of going back in time. We sat, ordered two large tea cups, and asked for chess pieces. I won the first turn. I won the second. I won the third. My cousin was angry and mockingly called me a cheater, (because I tricked him in the second match). I smiled and simply replied: If I cheated in the second, what about the first and the third?! He stopped arguing, and we changed the spot. We never entered that Chess coffee shop again!
If three successes are too much, two will always do. If two are beyond what we do expect, let us focus upon one and enlarge it as much as we can to entertain ourselves with our triumph.
2 comments:
Ok... What to say about this painting.
I'm sorry to say that it's kind of confusing.
Of course, the checker board is there... clearly painted. But the rest of the elements are not easily discernable. I know that I shouldn't expect them to be similar to what we see in classical paintings, but I couldn't see any pattern to make my eyes focus or follow the stream of colors.
On the other hand, I like the contrast between the B&W of the checker board and the rest of the canvas. the vivid hues form an explosion of light.
Maybe with a little introduction to contemporary art, I'd read this paiting better.
Anyway... Don't stop... Keep up the good work.
Maybe you are used to the classical school .. where every line is a straightline .. where all shapes come from the normal category of shapes .. where each color stands for its own meaning .. and where the subject is dealt with seriousness and straightforwardness.
The painting follows the Surrialistic School. By definition: Surrealism is An art style developed in Europe in the 1920's, characterized by using the subconscious as a source of creativity to liberate pictorial subjects and ideas. Surrealist paintings often depict unexpected or irrational objects in an atmosphere of fantasy, creating a dreamlike scenario.
:)
I claim neither excellency in the art .. nor expertise ..
But deem it a simple shot in the direction of that magnificant school!
.
.
Thank you for your comment.
Post a Comment