Hisham Wadee Adwan... his work characterises the man - calm and soft spoken. |
Syrian artist Hisham Wadee Adwan's work characterises the man - calm and soft spoken. His art has something to do with the achievement of stillness in the midst of chaos, arresting attention in the midst of distraction.
Paintings of local Syrian scenes depicting mosques, souqs and natural beauty of Syria abound in most of his work. Even as a child, the sights and sounds of the ancient city of Damascus where he lived with his family fascinated him. He began drawing and painting at a very young age going on to win many prizes. His unique talent won him a place in the Fine Arts College at the University of Damascus.
Outstanding among all the paintings is a portrait of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan done in charcoal. Rather unusual and rarely seen in Abu Dhabi is Adwan's use of airbrush painting as a medium for posters. The effect is strangely arresting.
A great enthusiast of the Theatre of the Absurd, he has used the poster to depict scenes from well-known plays of this genre. Absurd Theatre like abstract art is a different response to modern life - rebellious, individualistic, unconventional, sensitive and perhaps a little irritable.
Having taken part in many group exhibitions in Syria, Adwan's work is currently being shown at Delma Corner in the Cultural Foundation and is his first solo effort. He hopes this will be the first step towards his growth into a complete artist.
Adwan is a graphic designer and an expert in the field of visual communication and plastic art. An instructor at the Art Workshop, he teaches oil painting and watercolours.
