Ayyam Gallery

001 Walid EL MASRI 1979 'Chairs' Signed, Dated 120 X 60 cm. Mixed Media on Canvas 2009 Estimate (US$ 3,500 - 5,000) The paintings of Lebanese artist Walid El Masri possess what one critic referred to as the "bravura and technique one rarely finds in the work of someone his age." Born in Beirut in 1979, he is a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus and has participated in numerous group exhibitions and art fairs at home and abroad, including in Europe, Asia and the US. Solo exhibitions at the China International Gallery Expo and Art Hong Kong in 2009, established his popularity with not only Asian collectors but international art lovers. Considered one of the Arab world's most exciting young talents, he has been given solo shows in Damascus, Dubai and Paris and has been featured in a number of Ayyam's high profile events such as its competition for emerging artists in 2007 and its "Young Collectors" auction in 2009. The recipient of several awards, he has won prizes at various workshops and contests in Syria. Experiments in palette and composition revolve around a relentless examination of a singular material subject—a simple chair. Yet this inanimate object possesses a startling power, as it functions as a point of departure for greater investigations into the fundamental components of painting. Like Morandi's vases or Cezanne's apples, El Masri's depictions are less about the objects themselves. What we find instead is an apparent resolve to reconfigure compositional properties, as he toys with depth and space, alluding to meditations on art and life and moments that are suspended in time—profound explorations that have attracted a large pool of art aficionados from across the Middle East.

001 Mohannad OrAbi born 1977 - Signed, Dated 100 X 90 cm. Acrylic on Canvas 2011 Estimate (US$ 6,000 - 7,000) Mohannad Orabi's whimsical self portraits exemplify what has made Syrian art so successful over the last sixty years. born in Damascus in 1977, Orabi graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 2000. Noteworthy among his peers he has exhibited in venues across the region, and has participated in collective shows and festivals in North America, Europe and Asia, including Art Palm beach, Miami international Art Fair, SCOPE Art Fair (basel). in China, solo shows at both The international Gallery Expo (CiGE) and Art Hong Kong in 2009, wowed international spectators. recently his canvases were highlighted in solo exhibitions at Ayyam Damascus, Dubai and beirut and were part of the gallery's popular exhibition “Shabab Uprising,” which offered a groundbreaking showcase of Syria's new wave of contemporary painting. His work is housed in private collections across the globe. The emerging artist is as much an individual as he is a continuation of global art trends, capturing the underlining dichotomy of Arab society while striving to reach new frontiers in aesthetic representation. With highly stylized characters that emanate with a particular carefree innocence, his portraits are at once reflective of his fascination with one's childhood experiences as they are investigations into the human spirit. reproducing variations of embellished figures, Orabi's compositions present his subjects in different scenarios, each one displaying variations on specific human emotions and interactions. Whether adorned in traditional Syrian garb or in contemporary clothing, his protagonists reflect the continued sense of joie de vivre that has defined modern Arab culture. Despite what underlining tension might exist between his subjects and the stark background of his compositions—often executed in flat color fields that stand as glaring contradictions to his lighthearted figures, which are rendered with bold patterns and sporadic lines— the artist strives to create a harmonious balance between their oversized bodies and their surroundings. in essence, the exaggerated proportions of their features (bulky heads, hollowed almond-shaped eyes and full figures) accentuate their larger-than-life presence, one that seems to float above the weighty concerns of the world.

033 Mustafa ALi born 1956 - 'Head in a Tunnel' Signed, Dated H215 X W46 X D46 cm. Wood & Bronze 2008 Estimate (US$ 10,000 - 12,000) Mustafa Ali, Syria's foremost sculptor, was born in Latakia in 1956. Known for elegant, monumental sculptures that pierce the consciousness and underscore the fragility of mankind, he has been widely collected in the Arab world for nearly three decades. After training in sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus, he continued his studies at the Fine Arts Academy in Carrara, italy, graduating in 1996. He has exhibited extensively on the international art circuit since 1979, and has participated in a number of high-profile events such as Latakia Sculpture biennial (where he was awarded the Golden Prize) (1997), the biennial of Alexandria, Egypt (1994), the Sharjah biennial (1995), the international Symposium for Sculptors in Valencia, Spain (2001), and Art Dubai (2011) . Ali's work is housed in private and public collections, including a number of official institutions in Syria such as the National Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Damascus, in addition to the Jordan National Gallery in Amman, the Sharjah Museum of Art and the Arab World institute in Paris. Many of his bronze and wood sculptures can also be found in public spaces, such as “The Gate of Syria,” which is on display in the Mediterranean Olympiad in Pari, italy, and “The Tower of Memory,” which stands in the Damascus international Fairground. indispensible to the Syrian art scene for years, Ali is also the director of the renowned Damascus art center The Mustafa Ali Art Foundation, which presents exhibitions, workshops, lectures and cultural events throughout the year to local artists and the public. Through his work and his nonprofit, Ali has inspired and supported generations of Syrian artists.

034 Ahmad AL ASKALANY born 1987 - 'Thinker' Signed, Dated, Numerated 33 X 22 X 21 cm. Bronze Sculpture (Edition 2/8) 2010 Estimate (US$ 10,000 - 12,000) Ahmed Al Askalany was born in 1978, Nag Hammadi, Egypt. He now lives and works in Cairo. Critics and art connoisseurs alike have already described Ahmed Askalany as one of the most unique and inimitable sculptors of his generation. Making already his Dubai debut at Art Sawa, Askalany will be exhibiting his latest collection of emotive sculptures entitled ‘Self Stories: birds & i'. Askalany's subjects are simple human figures and animals inspired and representative of his native town, Nag Hammadi, in Upper Egypt. His work mostly retains an explicit connection with traditional materials and craft methods associated with the ancient cultures of Egypt. Traditional aesthetic forms that place an emphasis on both structure and volume characterize Askalany's works, but the volumes are distorted with a minimal head on a giant body. Askalany's works possesses a sense of innocence alongside a state of isolation reflecting both frankness and candour. Nonetheless, the works retains a profound nature and sense of innocence. There is no specific formula that Askalany uses when creating his works of art, the final work often represents this by becoming humorous or naïve but always with a poetic sensitivity. This connection allows his work to become unique and unmistakable, yet, at the same time, does not stop him being thoroughly up to date. Speaking about his next exhibition Askalany commented, “My philosophy is simplicity, to convey the idea directly to the viewer without overcomplicating the message with too much detail". Askalany's short career has thus far been blessed with success and his latest body of works is sure to be a favorite amongst the region's art enthusiasts.

036 Sahand HESAMiYAN born 1977 - 'Untitled 02' Signed, Numerated 145 X 145 X 145 cm. Aluminium and Paint ( Edition 1/3) 2009 Estimate (US$ 10,000 - 12,000) Sahand Hesamiyan was born in Tehran, iran, in 1977 and received his bachelor of Sculpture from Tehran University. Primarily interactive and derived from islamic architecture, Hesamianwork extends the intense relationship between angles, symmetry and structure beyond the mere reflection and repetition of the forms. His sculptures are large welded dynamic abstract forms of steel that playfully challenge the viewer's perception of islamic art eradicating the ornament quality often associated with that. A current member of the managing board for the 6th Tehran Contemporary Sculpture biennial, he participated in the 1st Sculptural biennial for Urban Space (2008). He recently exhibited at Mohsen Gallery, Aaran Art Gallery and Haftsamer Gallery in Tehran and has received national recognition for his work in contemporary iranian sculpture.