Representation and the Significance of Imagination
“The Aim of Art is to Represent Not the Outward Appearance of things, but their Inward Significance“ -Aristotle
Imagination allows us to explore possibilities, envision different scenarios, and transcend the boundaries of reality.
This concept plays a crucial role in the cognition and the creativity in Ghada Khunji's and Iskander Dawani's practice. Through this Exhibition, we are offering a rare glimpse into their studios. Using photography, painting, video, and installation Ghada and Iskander create a space where their work allows us to enter fictional worlds, characters, and narratives that raise questions, inspire reflection, and convey deeper meanings. This enables us to empathize with others by mentally stepping into their shoes.
The "Representation and the Signification of Imagination" Exhibition opens on Thursday, December 12th, from 7 p.m. at Al Riwaq Art Space.
About the Artists
Iskander Dawani
Iskander's exploration spans across the diverse tapestry of artistic forms—painting, illustration, abstraction, and poetry—continually unraveling new dimensions of expression and creativity. His contemporary portraits possess a captivating immediacy, exuding both vivid realism and emotive depth. Meanwhile, his adept fusion of text and imagery in illustrations and word collages forges a captivating synergy, blurring the boundaries between language and visual representation. And within his hallucinatory and ethereal cartoons, viewers are beckoned into enchanting realms, where imagination intertwines with perception, inviting an odyssey through surreal landscapes. Since 1992, Iskander has wielded poetry as a profound outlet, a canvas where views and thoughts learned, experienced, and cultivated find their eloquent expression across the vast expanse of time.
Ghada Khunji
Ghada Khunji was born in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain in 1967 and is currently residing there. She is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design and the International Center of Photography's Documentary Program, both based in New York. Her career as a freelance photographer in the fashion industry in New York City began in the early nineties and she spent two years as a research assistant for photo agencies, including Black Star and Magnum. For the following eight years, she was a printer and print manager for a high-profile clientele, such as Annie Leibovitz and Steven Meisel. Her photographs are known for depicting both landscapes and people from all over the world and for capturing the inherent dignity of the human element. Ghada’s most recent work focuses on exploring my innermost feelings, thoughts, and identity as a woman. Over the years, Ghada has been the recipient of numerous awards, such as the Lucie Discovery of the Year and American Photo Magazine’s Image of the Year Award. Her artworks have been exhibited widely in the US, and the Middle East.
