Marwan - Der Unverdeckte, 1969 Etched Print 2/6
Introduction:
The renowned work of Syrian-born artist Marwan Kassab Bachi has acquired international recognition from a number of reputable British art institutions such as the British Museum, Tate Modern and Christie’s, among others, as well as academic recognition with a permanent professorship at Hochschule der Künste in Berlin.
Description:
We can identify a sense of the grotesque in Der Unverdeckte, as the artist peels back figurative layers of artifice and human convention to reveal the raw and fleshly underneath. Without MARWAN’s signature pop of colour, the silent revelation of emotion in these works is even more poignant. Of his own work, Marwan says it is ‘quite confrontational. People don’t always like it, as they often want something more “sweet”’.
In this etching Marwan depicts a contorted figure in monochrome. Rich fleshly details stand in paradox with a bruised, bony anatomy. Flesh appears to be made liquid here as the body begins to lose form and transform into a landscape. A deformed head and face seem to be the focal point of this work, as the skull is flattened, the facial expression gains depth through masterfully placed shadows, wrinkles, and detailed crevices.