361 - Samir Al Sayegh, Lebanese 1945-

Samir Al Sayegh, Lebanese 1945- Ghibta, 1996 numbered and dated in Arabic ‘Ghibta 21/40 1996’ (lower left) silkscreen on paper 70 x 50 cm (print size) Exhibited: Dubai, Word into Art, Dubai International Finance Center, 7 February -30 April, 2008 (another print from this series exhibited) London, Word into Art, British Museum, 18 May-2 September, 2006 London (another print from the series exhibited) Dar Al Funoon, Kuwait. Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2007. Provenance: Dar Al Funoon, Kuwait. Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2007. Samir Sayegh is a Lebanese artist, critic and poet whose artistic practice transforms the way in which language is interpreted, liberating calligraphic words and individual letters from their literal interpretation, and honours their aesthetic qualities through abstraction. Sayegh explains “My understanding of calligraphy is that it’s not the calligraphy that carries the final meaning. The last word is not declared by this painting or drawing. The true meaning of the drawing is in the interpretation of it by the viewer.” Sayegh employs geometric minimalism with striking colours, utilising the entire surface of his canvases, challenging the viewer to separate the beauty from the interpretation of language.