Christie’s third annual summer exhibition celebrates one of the most critically acclaimed and influential figures in modern and contemporary art: Marwan Kassab Bachi (1934–2016), known as Marwan. Marwan was a Syrian-born artist who moved to Germany in the late 1950s and became renowned for his explorations in figuration, particularly the study of the head. Through expressive brushstrokes and layering of paint, Marwan’s heads go beyond traditional portraiture and explore the emotional depth of the human visage. Ultimately, morphing into landscapes upon which he excavated and expressed the complexities of the soul.

Marwan: A Soul in Exile traces Marwan’s extensive career from his early figurations to his iconic facial landscapes and ‘Marionette’ series. Showcasing paintings, works on paper, and editions from 1953 until 2014, this retrospective exhibition offers the audience a rare opportunity to engage with Marwan’s unique and inspiring oeuvre through remarkable works that have not been presented together previously.

Curated by Dr Ridha Moumni, Chairman of Christie’s Middle East and Africa, this non-selling exhibition brings together over 150 works on loan from prominent museums, institutions and private collections in Europe and the Middle East, including Atassi Foundation, Dubai; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah; Berlinische Galerie - Museum of Modern Art, Photography and Architecture, Berlin; Darat al Funun - The Khalid Shoman Collection, Amman; iSelf collection, London; Pinault Collection, Paris; Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut; Sharjah Art Foundation Collection, Sharjah.