Shakir Hassan Al Said (1925 - 2004)
1925-XX-XXAs Samāwah, Iraq2004-XX-XXBaghdad, IraqIraq
Shakir Hassan Al Said
Shakir Hassan Al Said, an Iraqi painter, sculptor and writer, is considered one of Iraq's most innovative and influential artists. An artist, philosopher, art critic and art historian, he was actively involved in the formation of two important art groups that influenced the direction of post-colonial art in Iraq. He, and the art groups in which he was involved, shaped the modern Iraqi art movement and bridged the gap between modernity and heritage. His theories charted a new Arabic art aesthetic which allowed for valuations of regional art through lenses that were uniquely Arabic rather than Western. Al Said's early work reveals the influence of European avant-garde art movements - particularly expressionism and cubism. However, his work also drew on his Arabic-Islamic heritage and popular culture. His work evolved from the 1960s after he began to focus on Sufism in the 1960s. From this time, he began to integrate Arabic letters as a visual element in his compositions. His artistic philosophy was rooted within both Sufism (a branch of Islam) and Western Modern ideals regarding structuralism, semiotics, deconstructionist, phenomenology, and existentialist thoughts. Al Said published several books on modern art in Iraq and numerous articles in Arabic journals and newspapers.Date and place of birt: | 1925, As Samāwah, Iraq |
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Date and place of death: | 2004, Baghdad, Iraq |
Nationality: | Iraq |
Period of activity: | XX, XXI century |
Specialization: | Artist, Graphic artist, Painter, Portraitist, Sculptor, Writer |
Genre: | Portrait |
Art style: | Cubism, Expressionism, Modern art |
Technique: | Pencil, Ball pen, Collage, Hand graphic, Mixed media, Oil, Oil on canvas, Oil on panel, Pastel, Watercolor |