Ejaz Art Gallery hosted an exhibition titled ‘The Renewal’ on Feb 27.

Documenting the world of aesthetic joy, brothers Ali Hammad and Ali Saad seem to passionately worship beauty like a devotee. Their work embodies the characteristics of the Dutch masters; Rembrandt and Caravaggio and the Flemish artist Rubens. It is dynamic, dramatic and exuberant.

Walking through the gallery one finds African, Syrian, Turkish and Pakistani features in Ali Hammad’s portraits with a marked influence of Dutch master’s portraits and their particular demeanor. In his canvas the drama is mainly obtained by his use of a celestial light which draws the viewer’s attention to the central figure and the parts of the painting that reflects it.

The work titled ‘The Gypsy’ is a depiction of human emotions. As artist states that the intriguing eyes of the worker from Abbotabad, Pakistan (whom he noticed fixing the tiles of the floor in his own workplace in Abu Dhabi) compelled him to draw their beauty. In this imposing half-length image, a bearded man wearing bold colored headscarf stares out at the viewer.

His features are strongly modeled by light streaming in from the right side of the canvas. The penetrating gaze that “looks straight into the human heart” and the realistic depiction of the human form is marvelously achieved.

‘The Empress’ also represents bright Dutch-palette. The ingenious use of studio-like chiaroscuro effect, the realistic representation of ornaments and folds of the drapery gives a very serene, personal and quiet feel to the canvas. The main emphasis is given to highlight the strong vibrant colors of the dress and the ornament on the head, with the light source coming from the front.

In his work one finds a careful depiction of minutest details in handling of birds feathers, the inscription on the pot in still life, the folds of drapery and also in the strands of hair. In the still life extreme contrast between highlights and shadows are created to give the subject matter a sense of solidity and weight.

Ali Saad states: “A piece of art never stops giving pleasure; sensational and sweet…my subject matter from exhibition to exhibition may vary, but the techniques and the principles that I follow are of Dutch masters like Rembrandt.”

Taking an inspiration from Shakespeare’s drama, his canvas titled Othello depicts scene embodying composition of figural and metaphorical imagery. The intense use of light source from the front and the vibrant red color of turban against dark background gives a very dream-like, sensual feel to the canvas. His pictures carry a robust naturalism with violent contrast of bright light and opaque shadows.

In ‘Girl with a red headscarf’ the dreamlike eyes are cast down. The canvas reveals Saad’s realistic approach to the human figure, painted directly from life and dramatically spotlit against a dark background. The ingenious use of light incites the glittering character of the texture of clothes, mainly the headscarf and the strands of her hair.

Another beautifully executed piece ‘The mare with the carpet’ serves to focus the viewer’s attention upon, and to dramatise the division between a flood of light -- an overwhelming natural representation of the subject matter -- and a brooding duskiness. The minute details of the fold and the intricate patterns of the carpet are marvelously painted to the point of perfection.

Through the help of their imaginative escape from the harsh world around both the artists justify Leonardo Da Vinci’s quote: “Look at light and admire its beauty. Close your eyes, and then look again: what you saw is no longer there; and what you will see later is not yet.” — Ayeshamajeed2015@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2018