01 Work, The art of War, Ayman Baalbaki's Fedayeen, with Footnotes

Ayman Baalbaki (Lebanese, b. 1975)

Untitled, c. 2008

Acrylic on printed fabric

78¾ x 59in. (200 x 150cm.)

Private collection

Sold for USD 233,000 in May 2015

The present work from the Mulatham series is an iconic image of heroism for Ayman Baalbaki. These freedom fighters or 'fedayeen', as they are commonly known, occupy an important part of his artistic oeuvre. His war-stricken childhood during the Lebanese Civil War translates into the portrayal of these deeply personal icons. 

Flooding his canvases with colour, these emotive portraits result from an unfortunate familiarity with the loss and devastation of war. 'The chaos of the War allowed us to become ourselves'. This empowered subject matter is reflected through the temperament with which he paints. His anger and violence provides the ammunition for a rich artistic departure, influencing both the technique and development of his style.

The scowling veiled man in this work is seen portrayed with an unusual visual paradox. The floral silhouettes which occupy the backdrop around his head are reminiscent of the coloured floral textiles worn by Baalbaki's mother and grandmother. More on this painting

Ayman Baalbaki is a Lebanese artist, living and working in Beirut. He studied Fine Arts in Beirut and at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. Born during the Lebanese civil war in the 1970s, Baalbaki draws most of his inspiration from this subject matter. In 2012, Baalbaki was part of the The Future of a Promise at the 54th Venice Biennale: the first pan-Arab exhibition of contemporary art to feature in the festival. This exhibition brought together more than 25 recent works by some foremost artists of the Arab world. His work depicted warriors wearing veils or casks. His paintings often describe the seemingly endless conflicts that haunt the Middle East. More on Ayman Baalbaki

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