Marionette

Painted in 2014, Marionette is an important piece of Marwan’s impressive large-scale semi-abstract canvases. Greatly influenced by German expressionism, the juxtaposition of quick and dynamic brushstrokes primarily in a vibrant blue palette, accented with touches of red, yellow, and purple against a pale sandy-coloured background, enhances the prominence of the central figure. The energetic brushwork around the marionette creates a halo-looking framing to the figure which evokes a sense of movement within stillness – as for stop-motion snapshot of a moving body. This stylistic duality reflects the metaphorical paradox of marionettes – inanimate and unblinking objects but still able to stir emotion within us.

Born in Damascus in 1934, Marwan moved to Germany in 1957 where he began studying painting at the Hochschule der Bildende Künste in Berlin under the supervision of the German artist Hann Trier. His cherished artistic contributions transcended geographical and cultural borders, propelling him to the forefront of Germany's New Figuration movement amidst the dynamic 1960s art milieu. At the core of his legacy lie his iconic explorations of the human form, prominently featured in his reoccurring Marionette series. Marwan’s works are part of several important institutions worldwide such as the Guggenheim, Abu Dhabi, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Tate Modern, London, The British Museum, London and Barjeel Foundation, Sharjah.