Iraqi artist Dia al-Azzawi has returned to Beirut with a powerful new exhibition that completely fills the vast walls of the Saleh Barakat Gallery. The show, titled "False Witnesses," features just five large-scale paintings and one tapestry, but their enormous size and emotional impact create an overwhelming visual experience that has been compared to Picasso's "Guernica."
The centerpiece of the exhibition includes polyptych frescoes painted by al-Azzawi between 2020 and 2023, with dimensions reaching 270x800cm and 200x900cm. These massive works are complemented by abstract stainless steel sculptures that frame the gallery space. The paintings deploy what critics describe as breathtaking power and aesthetic impact, creating something reminiscent of Picasso's famous anti-war masterpiece.
The exhibition serves as al-Azzawi's artistic cry against all forms of oppression suffered by Middle Eastern populations. The Iraqi artist, who has never denied Picasso's influence on his work, has created these pieces as a response to recent political upheavals in the region. The works reflect his deep emotional response to the failed uprising movement of October 2019 in Lebanon and the youth insurrection that followed.
Al-Azzawi's return to Beirut marks a significant moment for both the artist and the Lebanese art scene. The Saleh Barakat Gallery's spacious exhibition hall provides the perfect venue for these monumental works, allowing visitors to fully experience the scale and intensity of the artist's vision. The exhibition demonstrates how contemporary Middle Eastern artists continue to grapple with themes of political oppression and social justice through their art.
