Lot 108: Untitled (from the Fractal series)

Nabil Nahas (Lebanese, b. 1949) Untitled (from the Fractal series) signed and dated 'Nabil Nahas 2008' (on the reverse) acrylic and pumice on canvas 30 3/8 x 34½in. (77 x 87.5cm.) Executed in 2008

77 x 87.5cm.

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in 2008.

Nabil Nahas' infamous ability to create richly ornamented and highly textured works of art has made him one of Lebanon's most dynamic and most renowned artists. Known not only as a skillful painter, but also as a renowned innovator of artistic material, one of his greatest artistic departures have been this highly dexterous Fractal series. As strong evocations of his unique craft, the artist combines thick layers of acrylic paint mixed with pumice to form these works, reminiscent of the richly coloured coral of the sea. Their layered texture, density and repetitive sense of patterning are unique facets of the artist's work. His beautiful creative process succinctly encapsulates the essence of a contemporary style by combining a distinct artistic perspective with unique technical manifestations. A fine art graduate from Yale and thus schooled in Western abstract painting, it is undoubted that the thoughtful use of colour and emphasis on texture has become synonymous to the artist's methodology. His work provides unique interpretations of nature and Islamic art - with particular attention to its geometric and chromatic qualities. Despite the execution of his work in New York, the artist relied on the iconography of his youth in both Beirut and Cairo to critically inform the subject matter of his work, creating a perfect union between a contemporaneous technique and a nostalgic visual lexicon. Born in 1949, the artist has received worldwide acclaim for his works, some of which are to be seen in the permanent collections of the Tate Modern in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Mathaf in Doha, amongst a plethora of other reputable institutions. The present work, from the sought after Fractal series is a truly unique composition that accurately captures the fascinating innovation of art as much as Nabil Nahas' multifaceted background and multicultural inspirations.