Dichotomy with Illness, 2022

HATEM AL AHMAD

Hailing from Syria and currently residing in Abha, Saudi Arabia, the artist Al Ahmad is a rising star in the contemporary art world, renowned for his unique painting style that melds together the legacies of surrealism, figuration, and Pop art with visual traditions from around the world. A masterful storyteller, Al Ahmad captures the nuances of everyday reality in his mesmerising portraits, each piece offering a glimpse into different narratives and episodes of daily life. His use of color is as vibrant as it is introspective, with his compositions reflecting his own psychological states and sensibilities. Through his art, Al Ahmad explores the ambiguity of his imagination and its representation on the pictorial plane. Hatem’s allegorical ideas are on full display, presented through the guise of environmental practices. With a keen eye for social commentary, his works reflect on the current state of the world, highlighting the pressing issues of pollution, extinction, and consumption practices. By referencing diverse social practices and historical traditions, Al Ahmad creates transhistorical and transnational bridges, engaging with multiple contexts at once. His art is a call to question the very nature of culture and materiality, offering an insightful commentary on the condition of contemporary society. As Al Ahmad continues to gain recognition for his captivating artistry, he is quickly becoming a prominent voice in the world of contemporary art.