40 - ‡ FATEH MOUDARRES (SYRIAN 1922-1999)

‡ FATEH MOUDARRES (SYRIAN 1922-1999) UNTITLED signed and dated Moudarres 1996 lower right; signed Moudarres in Arabic lower right mixed media on card 50 x 35cm (72.2 x 57cm framed) Sold with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Estate of Fateh Moudarres A seminal figure in Syrian art, Fateh Moudarres is a pioneer of modern painting in his country, integrating elements of Assyrian art with Christian iconography and European modernism. Born in Aleppo, Moudarres studied at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Rome and later at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris (1972) where he was deeply influenced by Christian symbolism as well as Surrealism and abstraction. Moudarres' artistry lies in his masterful blending of personal memory with deep-rooted Syrian heritage and tradition. His work shines a poignant spotlight on the hardships of Syria's rural working class, particularly agricultural labourers. Executed in a rich, earthy colour palette with thick, sweeping brushstrokes, his rural landscapes are populated by mournful figures. As they toil, these silhouettes create a visual testament to their intrinsic bond with the land. Though their features are heavily abstracted, the subjects' characteristically wide faces remain deeply expressive, radiating a tangible sense of sorrow, reflection, and raw emotion. Moudarres’ works have been acquired by highly prestigious institutions, including: the British Museum; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; the National Museum, Damascus; the Syrian Ministry of Culture; the Dummar Museum, Damascus; the Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut; the Jalanbo Collection; and the Ibrahimi Collection, Jordan. Moudarres’ first solo show took place at the Liwa Club in Aleppo in 1950. In his lifetime, his work was exhibited regularly in solo shows in both Aleppo and Damascus, and in Beirut often at Gallery One. He went on to show in solo and group exhibitions worldwide. Among these, were several high-profile biennales, including events in Venice, Cairo, São Paulo, Brazil (where he won the Medal of Honor in 1963 and 1977), Alexandria and Seoul, alongside the New York International Art Fair. Towards the end of his career, Moudarres moved to Syria where he was a lecturer at the University of Damascus until his death. In 2019, the artist was the subject of the major retrospective Fateh al-Moudarres: Colour, Extensity and Sense held in the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha.