Abdul Qader Al Raes
Encyclopedia
Abdul Qader Al Raes is an artist from Dubai made famous by his monumental art works in palaces and distinguished public spaces.
where he resided as a student.
He was awarded first honour as a young artist for his artwork which was inspired by the movie “Agony & the Ecstasy,” and signaled the beginning of his extraordinary life in art.
Abdul Qader’s incessant pencil and watercolour sketches clearly defined his role in life as an artist. He was a perfectionist who laboured to get the right colours, studied different techniques and applied that knowledge to successive paintings.
Largely self-taught, his interest in old local architecture gems and nature were depicted in romantic realism. His early work explores local scenery, coastlines and idyllic landscape in the UAE. They were essentially realist but it is an extraordinary realism
distilled by an exacting eye and a mystical imagination which gives his works much of its power. Not only does he capture the place, but also the sense of time, in a medium that is most expressive, appealing and challenging – watercolour.
These early works has led to continued success, winning awards after awards and has garnered the attention of national and international media. Abdul Qader Al Raes became a household name in the GCC
world of fine arts.
He continued for the next several years to concentrate on local sceneries that became his trademark. Then, at the crucial juncture of his career, when he was moving beyond the traditional subjects in watercolour so indelibly associated with his name, Abdul Qader stepped outside himself and began to address issues of artistic authorship and individual style with acuity and critical distance.
Motifs of geometric ops producing multiple illusions of depth were initially added on to the subject. With this series, Abdul Qader succeeded in making the geometric forms surrounding the subject matter equally important as the subject matter itself. Moving further, changes in paint handling and stylistic staccato make for extreme variations among his realistic paintings resulting into calligraphic abstract
juxtaposed with geometric ops and realistic images in vibrant new canvasses.
The merging of style is his language of pure individual self-expression – and that style is not inextricably bound to a single, authorial hand, but rather separate, mobile, detachable, and potentially re-inhabitable – Abdul Qader Al Raes’ signature style.
His new works both in oil and watercolour retain much of the original influences and may be familiar to the Middle Eastern eye, but the individual who created them remains enigmatic.
Born in 1951, he left Dubai
to study in Kuwait
at the age of six and stayed with his sister until he was 18 yrs old. Undoubtedly, Abdul Qader’s early experiences in Kuwait, including the teachings impacted his development both artistically and intellectually. Abdul Qader left grammar school
and returned to Dubai in 1974 where he worked at the Ministry of Labour as a labour inspector. He pursued his education and earned a degree in Sharia Law at the United Arab Emirates University
, Al Ain
.
Biography
The most important and highly celebrated artist of the UAE, Abdul Qader Al Raes, at the age of 14 has done wonders in painting and was well received in KuwaitKuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
where he resided as a student.
He was awarded first honour as a young artist for his artwork which was inspired by the movie “Agony & the Ecstasy,” and signaled the beginning of his extraordinary life in art.
Abdul Qader’s incessant pencil and watercolour sketches clearly defined his role in life as an artist. He was a perfectionist who laboured to get the right colours, studied different techniques and applied that knowledge to successive paintings.
Largely self-taught, his interest in old local architecture gems and nature were depicted in romantic realism. His early work explores local scenery, coastlines and idyllic landscape in the UAE. They were essentially realist but it is an extraordinary realism
Realism (visual arts)
Realism in the visual arts is a style that depicts the actuality of what the eyes can see. The term is used in different senses in art history; it may mean the same as illusionism, the representation of subjects with visual mimesis or verisimilitude, or may mean an emphasis on the actuality of...
distilled by an exacting eye and a mystical imagination which gives his works much of its power. Not only does he capture the place, but also the sense of time, in a medium that is most expressive, appealing and challenging – watercolour.
These early works has led to continued success, winning awards after awards and has garnered the attention of national and international media. Abdul Qader Al Raes became a household name in the GCC
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council , is a political and economic union of the Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf and constituting the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates...
world of fine arts.
He continued for the next several years to concentrate on local sceneries that became his trademark. Then, at the crucial juncture of his career, when he was moving beyond the traditional subjects in watercolour so indelibly associated with his name, Abdul Qader stepped outside himself and began to address issues of artistic authorship and individual style with acuity and critical distance.
Motifs of geometric ops producing multiple illusions of depth were initially added on to the subject. With this series, Abdul Qader succeeded in making the geometric forms surrounding the subject matter equally important as the subject matter itself. Moving further, changes in paint handling and stylistic staccato make for extreme variations among his realistic paintings resulting into calligraphic abstract
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
juxtaposed with geometric ops and realistic images in vibrant new canvasses.
The merging of style is his language of pure individual self-expression – and that style is not inextricably bound to a single, authorial hand, but rather separate, mobile, detachable, and potentially re-inhabitable – Abdul Qader Al Raes’ signature style.
His new works both in oil and watercolour retain much of the original influences and may be familiar to the Middle Eastern eye, but the individual who created them remains enigmatic.
Born in 1951, he left Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
to study in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
at the age of six and stayed with his sister until he was 18 yrs old. Undoubtedly, Abdul Qader’s early experiences in Kuwait, including the teachings impacted his development both artistically and intellectually. Abdul Qader left grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
and returned to Dubai in 1974 where he worked at the Ministry of Labour as a labour inspector. He pursued his education and earned a degree in Sharia Law at the United Arab Emirates University
United Arab Emirates University
United Arab Emirates University was established in 1976, and is the oldest of the three government-sponsored institutions of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates compared to the Higher Colleges of Technology and Zayed University...
, Al Ain
Al Ain
Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
.
Education
- 1957–1968 Kindergarten to Grammar school, Kuwait
- 1982 – Graduated with a degree in Sharia Law, United Arab Emirates UniversityUnited Arab Emirates UniversityUnited Arab Emirates University was established in 1976, and is the oldest of the three government-sponsored institutions of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates compared to the Higher Colleges of Technology and Zayed University...
, Al AinAl AinAl Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
Solo exhibitions
1974-1st Solo Exhibition-Dubai; 1987- Dubai, Sharjah;1988-Dubai; 1989-Abu Dhabi; 1990-Dubai; 1991-Abu Dhabi, Dubai; 1992-Prague, Liberec, Czechoslovakia, Beirut; 1993-Washington DC; 1994-Al Ain, Dubai; 1996-Abu Dhabi, Germany, Dubai; 1997-Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah Biennial; 2001- Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Dubai, Al Ain; 2002- Qatar; 2003-Dubai; 2004-Dubai; 2005-Dubai, Oman; 2007-Dubai, Abu Dhabi; 2008 Dubai, Riyadh.Selected Awards
- 1975 First Prize, 1st Youth Exhibition-Dubai
- 1983 Appreciation Certificate, Arab Painter’s Exhibition-Kuwait
- 1988 First Prize, 3rd Spring Exhibition-Abu Dhabi
- 1989 Second Prize, 4th Spring Exhibition-Abu Dhabi
- 1990 First Prize, 6th Emirates Exhibition-Abu Dhabi
- 1991 First Prize, 1st Emirates Exhibition-Al Ain
- 1990, 1992, 1993 Golden Dana Award-Kuwait
- 1993 Juries Award, Sharjah Biennial-UAE
- 1992, 1994 & 1996 First Prize Sultan Al Owais Award for Scientific Studies and Creativity-UAE
- 1995 Juries Award Latakia Biennial-Syria
- 1997 Honoured in Sharjah Biennial-UAE
- 1999 First Prize Exhibition of “Emirates in the Eyes of its People”
- 1999 Golden Soafah (palm Leaf), GCC Exhibition
- 2006 Emirates Appreciation Award
Selected bibliography
- The Human…The Home'- Abdul Qader Al Rais, Catalogue Raisonne ©2005 Al Owais Cultural Foundation, Dubai
- The Colours of My Life' - Abdul Qader Al Rais, Dubai Cultural Council, ISBN 978-1-86063-234-1, February 2008
- Abdul Qader Al Raes, Catalogue Raisonne ©2008, Hewar Art Gallery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Collections
Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. Art Museum, Sharjah. Modern Art Museum, New Delhi, India. The British Museum, London, UK. Berlin Museum, Germany. Qatar Museum. Amman Museum, Jordan. Kuwait Contemporary Art Museum. Shanghai Contemporary Art Museum, China. The Emirates Ruling family’s residence, UAE and abroad. Public and Government institutions. Amiri Airport, Abu Dhabi. Rashid Hall, Dubai Airport. VIP Lounge, Dubai Airport. Private collections.External links
- http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/wordintoart/word-into-art/artists/alraes.html
- http://archive.balticmill.com/index.php?access=&itemid=36281
- http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/uae-businessman-donates-dh5m-for-dubai-cares-1.207203
- http://www.booksarabia.com/packages/default.asp?packageID=ART00778&from=lib
- http://www.motivatepublishing.com/library/default.asp?ArticleCode=ART00639
- http://www.alshindagah.com/may98/art.htm
- http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainment/visual-arts/impressions-of-a-self-taught-artist-1.39823
- http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091024/NATIONAL/710239758
- http://daytranslations.com/famous_emiratis.aspx
- http://www.abudhabitourism.ae/en/info/fabulous.fleet.line.up.aspx
- http://www.themajlisgallery.com/files/presspdfs/press_image_34.pdf
- http://www.swissartgateuae.com/projects.aspm
- http://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/art/features/6085-emirati-expressions
- http://www.ifacca.org/events/2008/11/30/arab-artists-celebrate-life-united-arab-emirates-t/
- http://www.dubailime.com/art-culture/artist-profiles/abdul-qader-al-rais.html
- http://www.aliomarermes.co.uk/press/view_citation.cfm?press_id=56