Beyond the Limits

FAYEZ BARAKAT Beyond the Limits vol. 21

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FAY E Z BAR AKAT Beyond the Limits vol. 21

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CATALOGUE EDITED BY: GIAN PIERO CARLO GIUSEPPE MILANI CURATED BY: MARIA SERENA PADRICELLI PHOTOGRAPHY: EVELINA SARUPICIUTE VISUAL CONCEPT: MARIA SERENA PADRICELLI COPYRIGHT © FAYEZ BARAKAT TEXTS © THE AUTHORS

PUBLISHED BY: HANNA BELLA PUBLISHING

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form of electronic or mechanical means including storage by information or retrieval systems without written permission of the authors except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

In the Virtual Space the dimensions of certain artworks are edited for curatorial purposes.

True dimensions are given in the catalogue.

CONTENTS EXHIBITION CONCEPT

ARTIST STATEMEPNT

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ABOUT FAYEZ BARAKAT

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CATALOGUE

21

PRICE LIST

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EXHIBITION CONCEPT

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The aim of this series is philosophical, metaphysical, and intellectual. I feel that there’s a volcano erupting inside me, as inside each of us. This volcano is the explosion of our desire to reach perfection, to transcend the innate limitations of our human nature. This is of course an aim we can never fulfil, but which nevertheless permeates our lives, as if the constant tendency to perfection represents our only way to confront our own imperfection through constant, challenging, continuous improvement.

Our aspirations therefore settle down, as the lava settles down and solidifies after the eruption, creating manyfold shapes and forms. This series proposes to represent the explosion of our inner energy, and the sanctity and perfection we can find in discovering and accepting our imperfections and humbleness, while we constantly strive to improve ourselves.

I focus on using colours resonating the different chakras, the centres of our inner divine energy, whence our constant innate desire for perfection springs from. This series allows each of us to evade from our own limits through our senses, finding our true selves and potential.

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ARTIST STATEMENT

It is my belief that feelings, sensations, thoughts, expectations, and dreams are frequencies that respond to colours, shapes, and forms that are embedded in our subconscious minds.

When I paint I try to share my experiences through this vibration of colours. The discipline of my distribution of my memories is reflected in the paintings.

It is my hope that my paintings will enhance the aesthetic frequencies of the viewers to a higher level of their present consciousness, enabling them to see the beauty of their genetic impression in the abstract forms and shapes created.

The ecstasy I feel after the completion of each artwork is the basis of a new creation and a process of spiritual growth. To share this journey with my viewers is my ultimate joy in the brief experience we call life.

After a lifetime of involvment in the art world, it is with great excitement that I share with you my passion for painting. I wish to reveal my artistic creations and expand my presence in the contemporary art world. Employing a variety of exciting techniques and diverse styles, these paintings are representations of pure emotion, the delight of fantasy, and the power of colour.

It is my sincere hope that you enjoy the works you find throughout this exhibition and that they connect with your mind, heart and soul.

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ABOUT FAYEZ BARAKAT

Fayez Barakat is best known as one of the world’s most important dealers and collectors of ancient art. His gallery in London is a treasure trove, filled to the brim with every age and culture ranging from Maya crystal skulls to Mogul statuary and Egyptian jewellery. However, whilst Barakat’s extensive knowledge has helped shape key private and public collections, another side to him that is fast becoming apparent:he is a prolific and highly accomplished painter who has managed over the last few years to establish an eclectic and allusive body of work.

Employing an astonishingly wide range of techniques, Fayez Barakat paints like other artists sketch; that is, he paints restlessly, loosely, energetically and gives over free rein to the flow of ideas going through him. The paintings, partly triggered by visions and ideas the arts has (he calls them “concerts of ideas, colours and themes”), are mostly executed at night between 2am and 5am or in any other free time he has from running and managing his galleries across three separate time zones. Other ideas come from the environment in which he paints, ranging as they do from his studios in Jordan, Los

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Angeles, Seoul, Marrekech, Hong Kong and London. The themes of his paintings are likewise varied and allusive, encompassing ideas such as fantasy, meditation, ecstasy and nirvana. These works not only embody his visions and feelings though, they often engage him in a process of what can be only called transcendence. In one recent interview he has spoken about the inner energies driving him and the sense that he becomes a “medium” of sorts channelling ideas and techniques in a manner that even surprises him.

As the artist has noted, with a look of slight bewilderment, it is for him “beyond belief” that he should be so obsessed (if not possessed) by the need to paint every day.

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So what, we may ask, is going on here: an expert in the field of ancient art and a respected collector in his own right emerges as an artist whose seemingly insatiable appetite for making paintings shows no sign of abating. Is this unusual or are we seeing a natural progression from collector to producer, the end effect of many years spent nit acting upon a desire to make work whilst at the same time being surrounded by some of the highest quality art and artefacts in the world?

Is this the story of a man destined to focus on collecting and the day-to-day running of his galleries at the expense of that which gave him most pleasure: painting? And if this is the visual manifestation of all that pent up creative energy, what then are we witnessing here?

Before those questions can be more fully answered, it is interesting that Barakat has not just arrived at painting but was an accomplished painter as a young man, garnering plaudits for his works and numerous invitations to show them. Trained at the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem, he mastered an array of formal skills but nevertheless felt somehow constrained by their rigid discipline. Something else was needed. We should also note here the fact that as a young man Barakat worked alongside the world-famous British archaeologist Dr. Kathleen Kenyon, a leading

archaeologist of Neolithic culture who is best known for her Jericho excavations between 1952 and 1958. It was with Kenyon that Barakat sorted and identified shards from her work in Jerusalem and it was at this time that he became an expert in both pottery classification and the principles of field archaeology. However, due to his career as a collector and dealer in antiquities and personal reasons, this youthful creative promise was put aside until relatively recently. The archaeological inclination, however, when viewed alongside his pursuit of formal painting skills, can be still seen in Barakat’s work in the manner in which ideas on the canvas seem to be constantly in the process of coming to the fore but, somewhat paradoxically, are being unearthed through a process of accretion and addition of paint.

Taking up a paintbrush again after so many years of not painting was therefore a transcendental if not ecstatic in its force for the artist, returning him to a time when it seemed he would take a different path in life and yet reconnecting a number of passions for archaeology, ideas, art history, and the sheer force of being creative. Working like a sleepwalker through the night, he paints as if is completely absorbed in the creative process and legacy of the art and artefacts he has lived with for so long.

The World as he found it Mediation and transformation in the world of Fayez Barakat

By Professor Anthony Downey Programme Director Contemporary Art Sotheby’s Institute of Art London (The above was written as an Introduction for “Beyond Fantasy”)

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CATALOGUE

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1 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm 2 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm 3 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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4 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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5 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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6 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm 7 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 150cm

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8 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm 9 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 150cm

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10 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm 11 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 150cm 12 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120 x 100cm

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13 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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14 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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15 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 150 x 100cm

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16 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

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17 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

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18 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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19 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

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20 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100cm x 120cm

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21 | 2021| Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

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22 | 2021| Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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23 | 2021| Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 70cm

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24 | 2021| Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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25 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120cm x 100cm 26 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50cm x 60cm 27 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100cm x 100cm

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28 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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29 | 2021| Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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30 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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31 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120 x 100cm 32 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm 33 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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34 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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35 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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36 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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37 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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38 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120 x 100cm

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39 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 150 x 100cm

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40 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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41 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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42 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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43 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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44 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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45 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm 46 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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47 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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48 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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49 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm 50 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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51 | 2018 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

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52 | 2018 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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53 | 2018 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm 54 | 2018 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm 55 | 2021| Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

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PRICE LIST

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1 MP.0006 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

11 MP.0002 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 150cm

£ 30,000

£ 50,000

2 MP.0074 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

12 MP.0057 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 40,000

3 MP.0075 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

13 MP.0024 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 30,000

4 MP.0060 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

14 MP.0012 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 30,000

5 MP.0059 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

15 MP.0005 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 150 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 50,000

6 MP.0076 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

16 MP.0053 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

£ 15,000

£ 40,000

7 MP.0006 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 150cm

17 MP.0032 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

£ 50,000

£ 40,000

8 MP.0021 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm £ 30,000

18 MP.0013 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm £ 30,000

9 MP.0004 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 150cm

19 MP.0031 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

£ 50,000

£ 40,000

10 MP.0015 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

20 MP.0030 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

£ 30,000

£ 40,000

21 MP.0026 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 120cm

32 MP.0070 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

£ 40,000

£ 15,000

22 MP.0072 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

33 MP.0009| 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 30,000

23 MP.0073| 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

34 MP.0011 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 30,000

24 MP.0064 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

35 MP.0068 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

£ 15,000

£ 15,000

25 MP.0028 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120 x 100cm

36 MP.0066 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

£ 40,000

£ 15,000

26 MP.0069 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

37 MP.0010| 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 30,000

27 MP.0014 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

38 MP.0055| 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120 x 100cm

£ 30,000

£ 40,000

28 MP.0062 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

39 MP.0003 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 150 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 50,000

29 MP.0016 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

40 MP.0023 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 30,000

£ 30,000

30 MP.0071 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

41 MP.0022 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 15,000

£ 30,000

31 MP.0033 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 120 x 100cm

42 MP.0025 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

£ 40,000

£ 30,000

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43 MP.0019 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

54 MP.0065 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

£ 30,000

£ 15,000

44 MP.0020 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm

55 MP.0063 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm

£ 30,000

£ 15,000

45 MP.0017 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm £ 30,000 46 MP.0007 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm £ 30,000 47 MP.0008 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm £ 30,000

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48 MP.0018 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 100 x 100cm £ 15,000 49 MP.0077 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm £ 15,000 50 MP.0078 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm £ 15,000 51 MP.0058 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 60 x 0cm £ 15,000 52 MP.0067 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm £ 15,000 53 MP.0061 | 2021 | Acrylic on canvas | 50 x 60cm £ 15,000

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FAY E Z BAR AKAT Beyond the Limits vol. 21

ENQUIRIES info@barakatgallery.eu

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COPYRIGHT © FAYEZ BARAKAT TEXTS © THE AUTHORS

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form of electronic or mechanical means including storage by information or retrieval systems without written permission of the authors except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

London 58 Brook St, Mayfair London, W1K 5DT +44 (0) 20 7493 7778 info@barakatgallery.eu www.barakatgallery.eu

Seoul 58-4, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea +82 02 730 1949 barakat@barakat.kr

Hong Kong 187 Hollywood Road Wah Koon Building, Sheung Wan +852-26382262 info@barakathongkong.com

www.barakatcontemporary.com www.barakatcontemporary.com

Los Angeles 941 N La Cienega Blvd Los Angeles CA 90069 +1 310 859 8408 contact@barakatgallery.com www.barakatgallery.com

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