Mayar Obeido: Mutual Change

Over the last year, the Dubai-based Syrian artist has produced a large body of work that explores the interconnectedness of everyday life. Interested in the concept of change and the visual possibilities of documenting this process, Obeido’s work considers how the passage of time can alter an object’s appearance and physical state; as the monotony of daily routines causes us to interact and pay attention to the spaces and things that form reality, the artist encourages a deeper look into how we experience everyday objects as a means of understanding consciousness.

Whereas figurative painting and drawing are typically understood as snapshots of a time and place, Obeido reimagines the compositional space as a site where images seem to evolve in real time. He achieves this sense of continuous motion by first covering his canvases with collaged newspapers that serve as a sort of timestamp, establishing context. Using charcoal, he then draws his riotous scenes over these textured surfaces. The paintings are finished with atmospheric washes of acrylic paint that bring these disparate layers together while illuminating his darkened scenes.

To 30 November.

Above: Mayar Obeido, Apple Observer 2 (2023)