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Lot Essay
Louay Kayyali is best known for illustrating everyday scenes, most of which seem banal and familiar. However, the artist's depictions have a strong focus on the daily struggles and the social and physical deprivation of the masses.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, not only were the streets of Aleppo and Damascus witnessing the march of history and the sound of war and victories, they also went a long way to establish the culture of the city. The cafés in the area attracted Arab intellectuals from around the region encouraging free thought and speech, thus becoming popular hubs frequented by like-minded individuals. Kayyali was a regular visitor of these venues, in particular the infamous Café Havana and the Café Al Shareq in Damascus, as well as the Café Al Qasser in Aleppo, where he was seen sketching the passerbys and taking part in challenging artistic debates.
In this intriguing work, Kayyali's subject seems to be a regular visitor of one of these influential cafés. The attire of the gentleman suggests that he is a middle-class governmental employee, in tune with the style of his time. The viewer is able to outline the burdens of life carried on his shoulders, while the tea and the cigarette, as well as his resting position, imply he had captured the figure after work relaxing and unwinding. The attentive and captivated gaze of the character leads the viewer to believe he is listening or taking part in one of these infamous discussions.
There is a convincing feeling of serenity in the image as it suggests a frozen moment in time. The stylistic approach with which Kayyali chose to create this powerful work advocates a strong sense of time. The subject's whole being is absorbed into that specific moment, the empty background suggesting a complete lack of awareness of his surroundings, making him entirely mesmerised in what seems to be a stimulating debate.
The uniqueness of Kayyali's work manifests itself in his ability to offer a simple and bland illustration, which nevertheless has the power to submit an immediate feeling of timelessness. The distorted sense of time makes the subject as well as the viewer utterly immersed in the present moment; an exhilarating sensation in our world of constant disruptions and rapid shifts.
Louay Kayyali's signature technique of painting on masonite adds to the worn, yet relentless nature of his character. By subtly highlighting the individual struggles evident on the face of larger socio-political realities in the Arab world, Kayyali provides a window into the lives of the deprived majority, while reminding the viewer of the preciousness of every minute, commenting on the fragility of life. Kayyali offers, once again, a powerful and unique work, confirming his well-earned position wihin the established Syrian Modern art scene.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, not only were the streets of Aleppo and Damascus witnessing the march of history and the sound of war and victories, they also went a long way to establish the culture of the city. The cafés in the area attracted Arab intellectuals from around the region encouraging free thought and speech, thus becoming popular hubs frequented by like-minded individuals. Kayyali was a regular visitor of these venues, in particular the infamous Café Havana and the Café Al Shareq in Damascus, as well as the Café Al Qasser in Aleppo, where he was seen sketching the passerbys and taking part in challenging artistic debates.
In this intriguing work, Kayyali's subject seems to be a regular visitor of one of these influential cafés. The attire of the gentleman suggests that he is a middle-class governmental employee, in tune with the style of his time. The viewer is able to outline the burdens of life carried on his shoulders, while the tea and the cigarette, as well as his resting position, imply he had captured the figure after work relaxing and unwinding. The attentive and captivated gaze of the character leads the viewer to believe he is listening or taking part in one of these infamous discussions.
There is a convincing feeling of serenity in the image as it suggests a frozen moment in time. The stylistic approach with which Kayyali chose to create this powerful work advocates a strong sense of time. The subject's whole being is absorbed into that specific moment, the empty background suggesting a complete lack of awareness of his surroundings, making him entirely mesmerised in what seems to be a stimulating debate.
The uniqueness of Kayyali's work manifests itself in his ability to offer a simple and bland illustration, which nevertheless has the power to submit an immediate feeling of timelessness. The distorted sense of time makes the subject as well as the viewer utterly immersed in the present moment; an exhilarating sensation in our world of constant disruptions and rapid shifts.
Louay Kayyali's signature technique of painting on masonite adds to the worn, yet relentless nature of his character. By subtly highlighting the individual struggles evident on the face of larger socio-political realities in the Arab world, Kayyali provides a window into the lives of the deprived majority, while reminding the viewer of the preciousness of every minute, commenting on the fragility of life. Kayyali offers, once again, a powerful and unique work, confirming his well-earned position wihin the established Syrian Modern art scene.