Stark and clear

Thaier Helal is well known for his abstract paintings. The Syrian artist, a senior professor at the University of Sharjah, Fine Arts College, uses the symbolic language of colour, composition, texture and repetitive patterns to communicate his concepts and emotions. But the ongoing events in his country and in the region have provoked him to adopt a more direct style. His latest show, titled In Army We Trust, is an expression of anguish that comes straight from the heart.

"I have spent my entire life researching and refining the art of abstraction to subtly convey what I want to say. But today, when I see my people out in the streets, I am thinking what I can do as an artist. And I feel that I must remove the covers from my paintings and reveal the truth within. I cannot be silent or subtle anymore. My message must be direct and strong," he says.

As the title suggests, this body of work questions the relationship between the people, the armed forces and those who control them. It features images of soldiers, army trucks, tanks and aircraft obtained from newspapers and other media. These are images we are all familiar with, but here they have been enlarged and the surroundings have been covered with black paint to forcefully convey the message and highlight every detail. The grainy, hurriedly taken images speak volumes about the fear and danger experienced by ordinary citizens. And the black background alludes to the darkness and the control of powerful and violent forces in their lives.

By blowing up the pictures and obliterating the surroundings, the artist draws attention to details such as the Russian origin of the tanks, aircraft and weapons, and Assad's pictures and the words "Assad's army" and "Assad's Syria" emblazoned on the vehicles. Every image raises many questions.

"I have been away from my country for 20 years. But seeing these images reminded me of childhood interactions with soldiers in my village. As a young boy, I was fascinated by the tanks and guns and wanted to be friends with the soldiers. As I became older I began to understand that the arms were used to kill and that the soldiers were there to fight for the country and protect us. But when I see what is happening today, my mind is full of questions. I want to know who paid for all these arms and vehicles and who supplied them and profited from them. And I realise that we, ordinary citizens, are mere pawns in a larger game. Also, when I see pictures of young soldiers in the army trucks, I observe their body language and I wonder what they are thinking, how they are feeling about what they have been ordered to do and what their own families are going through," Helal says.

Echoes of his repetitive abstract patterns can be seen in the way he has used paper cutouts of rifles, tanks and aircraft in the background of his canvases. Earlier, he has used pieces of charcoal to create meditative abstract patterns on pristine white canvases. But in this series, he employs bits of charcoal to create a dark, murky background that suggests gloom and an impending storm. His penchant for repetition is also evident in a large canvas entirely covered with rows of toy soldiers.

In a piece different from all the others in the series, the artist pays homage to the Libyans who fought bravely for their rights. Here the canvas is covered with bits and pieces of broken toys and splashes of red that represent the violence and destruction during the conflict. In an allusion to illuminations in religious texts, the entire canvas is painted golden. "This entire series is about the power of these weapons and soldiers. They can be used either to make war or peace. It all depends on the person who is wielding the power," Helal says.

Jyoti Kalsi is an arts enthusiast based in Dubai

In Army We Trust will run at Ayyam Gallery, DIFC, until March 15.