Artbooth Gallery Presents “Echoes of Elsewhere”: A Solo Exhibition by Syrian Artist Noor Bahjat
Abu Dhabi, UAE – December 5, 2024 – Artbooth Gallery is honoured to present “Echoes of Elsewhere,” a solo exhibition by the renowned Syrian artist Noor Bahjat. Opening on 16th January 2025, this exhibition transforms the gallery space into a realm where memory, urban landscapes, and the intangible threads of identity converge. The exhibition will be curated by Christina Kirkham and held on the ground floor of Centro Capital Centre by Rotana, located in the ADNEC area of Abu Dhabi. It will run until February 16, 2025.
Noor Bahjat’s eleven artworks traverse the blurred edges of reality, presenting layered compositions that invite quiet contemplation from the audience. Her paintings evoke whispers of lost cities and fractured histories, drawing visitors into an enigmatic exploration of longing and resilience. Using vivid textures and dynamic contrasts, Bahjat’s canvases capture the duality of light and shadow, revealing intricate worlds beneath their surfaces. Each piece invites the viewer to step closer, uncover what lies hidden, and interpret the untold stories within.
The works featured in “Echoes of Elsewhere” defy conventional boundaries and challenge perceptions. Among them are pieces that unveil vibrant urban scenes obscured by darkness, scraped back into visibility to hint at truths buried beneath the weight of time and turmoil. Collages reconstruct the artist’s fragmented memories of Damascus, layered with words of peace and unity, serving as a fragile testament to its enduring spirit. Circular compositions merge architecture, nature, and the ethereal, suggesting a dreamlike harmony where boundaries dissolve. Subdued cityscapes depict the contrast between thriving European metropolises and the unseen sacrifices of displaced communities, inviting a meditation on exploitation and resilience.
Bahjat’s creative process mirrors the emotional intensity of her themes. Her works begin as meticulous creations, only to be veiled in darkness and rediscovered through destruction, leaving traces of both loss and revelation. This act of reconstructing what has been obscured transcends visual storytelling, employing texture, colour, and form as evocative languages of their own.
“Through this collection, I wanted to create a space where viewers can step into the echoes of memory and see the interplay of light and shadow, hope and despair,” Bahjat reflects. “Each piece is an invitation to look beyond the surface and discover what lies beneath—both in the artwork and within themselves.”
Artbooth Gallery invites visitors to experience “Echoes of Elsewhere,” a hauntingly beautiful exploration of memory, identity, and the spaces we call home.
