"In the mere door, I discover metaphors, dualities, polarities: a beckoning of desires and dreams; hopes and opportunities. A dialectic between inside and outside; between hesitation and temptation; beseechement and welcome; security and freedom; being and non-being.
Onto what, for whom, do these doors open? "
- Sawsan Al Bahar
Curated by Celine Azem
Knocking on Doors unveils a captivating new series of experimental works by Sawsan Al Bahar, an artist deeply engaged in the intricate process of drawing. Al Bahar's artistry is a testament to her commitment to meticulous draftsmanship, skillfully intertwining the hand with the machine while embracing the tactile nature of drawing.
Al Bahar's practice begins with 3D scans, which she either creates or sources, and then modifies. In this exhibition, she explores her chosen medium in a more experimental manner, utilizing its tangible texture to transform dust into images and objects. Her artistic journey delves into the exploration of composition, form, and plasticity, mirroring her personal quest for home and meaning.
The exhibition centres around Al Bahar's exploration of doors, floors, and spaces found in Syria's cities, particularly Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs. Doors serve as a unifying theme, offering multifaceted interpretations. Some doors are open, while others remain closed, originating from old towns or residential streets. Many bear the scars of war, exhibiting varying degrees of damage. Through the interplay of lines, the absence of color, and the enigmatic quality of the images, Al Bahar heightens the tension between construction and destruction, reality and abstraction. Notably, she pairs a drawing of her grandmother's living room floor with life-sized sculptures crafted from concrete and graphite, capturing the essence of the depicted tiles. Additionally, 3D-printed plates etched with the artist's writing establish a personal connection, fostering conceptual and poetic readings.
Through her exploration of doors, Al Bahar delves into a realm of metaphors, dualities, and polarities. These doors symbolize desires, dreams, hopes, and opportunities, encapsulating the essence of the human experience. Each door embodies a dialectic between the realms of inside and outside, hesitation and temptation, beseechment and welcome, security and freedom, being and non-being.
Al Bahar's drawings act as captivating doorways, granting access to another world where she keenly observes and confronts the city, projecting her own self onto its tapestry. With a profound sensitivity, she seeks out the beauty within ordinary spaces and embarks on an exploration of the dimensions of intimacy.
Knocking on Doors evokes a deep-seated curiosity, a yearning to uncover the hidden stories concealed behind closed doors, unravelling the intricate narratives embedded within the cityscape. Her works become a gateway, an invitation to transcend space and time.