Exuberant colours

AMMAN — In his fourth show at Nabad Art Gallery, world-renowned Lebanese artist Hussein Madi explores different themes with joyful experiments in colour and form.

The exhibition presents a variety of contrasting pieces, where some embrace an abundance of exuberant colours while others are limited to basic monochrome lines. 

The exhibition displayed a selection of acrylics, limited-edition giclée prints and drawings on paper all portraying the artist’s playful and humorous spirit through careful calculations and clear exact lines.

Talking to The Jordan Times about the diverse subjects of his artwork, Madi said: “It is natural for an artist to deal with varying themes instead of limiting himself to one subject. The principle of work and how an artist deals with a theme remains stable but the topics vary.”

“Inspiration comes to prophets not to normal people,” Madi said when asked about what spurs his creativity when it comes to his works. “I like to look around me, to read a lot, I like to watch people. 

“When I used to live in Rome I used to go to the bird zoo and draw there. Nature is full of different topics, so why restrict yourself to only one topic? You have the beauty of the human, the bird, the animal and the plants and so much more.”

With works exhibited in over sixty solo shows in Lebanon, Rome, Milan and Tokyo to name a few, Madi’s impressive fifty-year career as a painter, sculptor and printmaker made him one of the Arab world’s most prominent artists.

The works can be seen until June 18.