“Seasons” is artist Ahmed Farid's fourth exhibition organised by Safarkhan gallery. Farid's fourth exhibition with the gallery titled “Seasons” fittingly heralds the New Year, highlighting new beginnings synonymous with his shift in style. The artist again brings a characteristic east-west duality to bear on his most recent works, which proceed from previous work but end up being something entirely new. Although he has remained true to the original style on which he built his reputation, his recent canvases are celebratory and meditative explorations of the qualities of the seasons, which he has drawn on as his main source of inspiration for this latest creative output. The bright and contrasting yet mellowing palette of autumn and spring conjures up notions of renewal, revitalization and a state of positive change involving shedding old memories, characteristics and past experiences in exchange for a fresh start. Farid has thus conceived most of the paintings in this collection in harmonizing and calming tones of pastel and vibrant oranges, ochres, browns and greens. His technique has undoubtedly become more layered, which gives his work a smoother quality, with more depth and the welcome inclusion of more minuscule detailing. According to Safarkhan gallery founder Sherwet Shafei, “This collection has a more holistic international focus than any of his previous bodies of work. This newfound theme explores the relation between the human and the outside world. There is the sensation of a mysterious property suspended between what appears to be the sky and the Nile. Farid cleverly fuses these two, positioning a vast new world of colour and charisma and charm that we are left to interpret individually”. The exhibition is on until 24 January.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
