Once again veteran artist Omar Al-Nagdi impressed the audience and his art lovers with his newest exhibition of paintings entitled, "The Clown: Laughing and Crying" presented by Picasso gallery. In the preface of the exhibition catalogue Al-Nagdi wrote these words which are his reflections on the topic of the exhibition, "Can I paint a portrait of your face? Yes, you can but you cannot illustrate my deep inner self, like the sea inside it. Have you ever heard the voice of my old cry when I was born? It echoes over rocks, mountain peaks and valleys littered over the waves of the sea and collided in dark lonely nights. I saw your dulled face, as melted snow, your rosy cheeks, your erased eyelashes and your piercing eyes led my soul to wonders of creation." The exhibition showcases 55 paintings depicting the clown in the circus while other paintings capture scenes from the social environment in Egypt such as the balcony and the countryside. Known as "Picasso of the Orient", Al-Nagdi is one of the most distinguished contemporary artists as he has got his very own philosophical insight reflected on his lines and figures. The internationally acclaimed artist has never relinquished his authentic Egyptian culture. He masters penetrating deeply into the character's soul even if it is hidden behind a mask or makeup as in the character of the clown which he used as a recurrent theme in most of the artworks on show and inspired its name. He spent a large part of his life in Paris where there is a museum bearing his name close to the museum of French impressionist artist Claude Monet. He held an annual exhibition in Paris and has acquisitions in Italy, France, Britain, the United States, South Korea and Japan. The exhibition ends 22 January.
