Dubai: A Syrian artist has recently painted portraits of controversial world leaders, and re-imagined them as disenfranchised or displaced civilians.
Abdullah Al Omari, who brought The Vulnerability Series to Dubai, said he was driven by his own experiences of displacement. Al Omari currently has refugee status in Belgium.
The Mediterranean.
Intrigued by, “the romantic idea of vulnerability and the impact it can generate”, while depicting his subjects, Omari eventually arrived at the “paradoxical nature” of empathy.
As he developed the series, his aim shifted from an expression of anger to a more vivid desire to disarm his figures, to picture them outside of their positions of power.
David.
Accompanying the portraits, the artist wrote: “I wanted to take away their power not to serve me and my pain but to give those leaders back their humanity and the audience an insight into what the power of vulnerability can achieve.”
The paintings, according to Al Omari, describe the experiences of civilians, particularly children, who are caught in the crossfires of war.
Francois et Nikolas.
The Vulnerability Series
Date: Until July 6, 2017
Location: Ayyam Gallery Dubai (12, Alserkal Avenue), Al Quoz 1, Dubai
Timings: Sunday to Thursday 10am - 6pm, Saturday 12 - 6pm
