Aref El Rayess
AREF EL RAYESS
Works 1960 – 1988
November 10, 2022 – January 21, 2023
hamburg
Political works
Blood and Freedom, 1968
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The late 60s and the 70s mark a crucial moment in El Rayess’ work. He settled in Lebanon where he was instrumental in the establishment of art centers and formal art schools, becoming a mentor and teacher to many. He was also very vocal in his criticism of the political establishment, and his oeuvre regularly tackled the geopolitics of the Arab world, often in the context of the cold war and the rise of Pan-Arabism. His Blood and Freedom works, produced in the wake of the Arab defeat of 1967, or the Temps Moderne et Tiers Monde of 1974-75 depict war horrors but also reveal the artist’s fascination with socialist philosophy and his constant reflection on the state of the world. This is a period during which he mostly produced figurative work. Often with a high dominance of red, these paintings take a stand, and call to action.