Born in Damascus in 1934, Marwan Kassab Bachi is a Syrian artist living in Berlin. He has been actively practising since the 1950s and is particularly well known for his unique depictions of human figures and faces. In some instances they are well-articulated representations of individuals with distinct features, while at other times, individual traits are abstracted, turning faces into anonymous masks.

This exhibition, being the very first one in the GCC to showcase a range of Marwan’s work within a single venue, aims at introducing regional public to the varied spectrum of Marwan’s oeuvre. Here, visitors are able to see the artist’s large-scale oil on canvas paintings, aquarelle works on paper, as well as etchings and quick sketches executed in pencil. The show presents portraits derived from life, political subjects, stylised representations of faces, and includes several depictions of masks and inanimate objects.