Zawyeh Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Tayseer Barakat (b. 1959), one of Palestine’s most distinguished contemporary artists. The exhibition, Lightness of Being, will feature 20 new acrylic paintings.

Opening reception: Monday 23 January 2017 from 6.00 - 9.00 pm
Exhibition continues until 15 February 2017.

Tayseer Barakat’s art work deals with people: men and women are practically omnipresent in his work, like colourful silhouettes hiding in the greys, whites and blacks of the backgrounds, obtaining powerful figures on simple elements. The themes are varied, the individual, the collective, the fight, the struggle, the affection, the interaction between humans and nature, death, loss and life.

One is taken to Barakat’s paintings, the coldness from the monochromatic backgrounds can be felt, subtle shapes of bodies come alive; their emotions are tangible despite the absence of facial expressions. All these elements add up in a tale that tells a story about a land and its people, about its ancient history and its modern struggle, which does not leave anyone indifferent.

Tayseer Barakat was born in Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza in 1959 and carried out his arts education in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1983. After completing his studies, he moved to Ramallah where he has been based ever since – both teaching and creating art.

Barakat has worked with a variety of materials and has experimented widely – with wood, metal and glass –, becoming one of Palestine’s foremost artists working today. Painting remains his first love and he continues to work at a prolific rate, drawing on the artistic heritage of the region and its ancient influences, and of Palestine, the Palestinian people and the Palestinian spirit.

Barakat has held 10 solo exhibitions and has participated in numerous group exhibitions with many of his contemporaries in Japan, USA, Brazil, Europe and across the Arab world.