First Polish show for renowned UAE artist opens in Gdańsk

Works by acclaimed Emirati painter Abdul Qader Al Rais can be viewed, as of June 30, at the Modern Art Department of the National Museum of Gdańsk (north Poland).

This is the first ever exhibition by an artist from the United Arab Emirates to be staged in Poland.

Małgorzata Paszylka-Glaza, curator of the Gdańsk exhibition told PAP that, "in reality, art in the UAE began with Abdul Qader Al Rais and the entire future generation of artists have to measure up to his legendary status and fame, as well as the artistic standards he set. He is the absolute forerunner in this field, a major figure in the art world of the United Arab Emirates, who is treated as a star-celebrity."

The show, titled 'The Power of Colour: The Paintings of Abdul Qader Al Rais,' will feature oil paintings and watercolours from various periods of his career, including recent work as well as paintings from his earliest period of creativity in the mid-70's.

Abdul Qader’s work was initially rooted in the realist tradition and developed into an interest in abstraction with an "incredible sense of colour," according to Paszylka-Glaza.

Referred to as 'The Godfather' of fine art in the UAE, Abdul Qader is a self-taught painter whose work has been shown in the Czech Republic, France, Germany and the USA.

'The Power of Colour' features 36 paintings by the multi-award winning artist and will run until September 8 in the Modern Art Department of the National Museum of Gdańsk (Opatów Palace, Gdańsk-Oliwa).