Lahd Gallery presented a special exhibition of Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian works at London’s Art16 Fair.

Visitors to Art16 in May 2016 were treated to a boldly-coloured and narrative-packed mini-exhibition from Lahd Gallery, showcasing work by artists from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) regions.

Art16 have chosen a trio of artists whose work skilfully blends conceptual and visual aspects. Each artist tells a personal story through their work, via the use of vibrant and striking colours and forms. “Trips to Colourful Thoughts” in stand C1 featured Anas Homsi from Syria, Algerian-French artist Patrick Altes and Indonesian textile practitioner John Martono. These highly personal works explore immigration, diaspora, war, conflict, and the search for happiness.

Born in Damascus, Anas Homsi‘s works depicted the feeling and atmosphere of a specific memory, rather than creating a strictly figurative portrayal. Homsi’s use of vibrant colours and dynamic forms to convey emotion unites his work with that of John Martono for instance. Where Homsi’s forms are passionate, Martono’s abstract communication is far more lyrical, with his style hinting at his homeland’s landscape and historic visual culture.

“Faces reflect the human suffering during the war, the remains of the bodies, the remnants of the memory of people who were alive.” – Anas Homsi

Patrick Altes‘ work on the other hand, explored belonging, dispossession, migration, and the tricky subject of birthright. Born in Algeria and having lived in many countries, he returns to the theme of swirling forms with titles like “Diaspora” and “Civilizational Flux” which don’t reference conflict as directly as Homsi’s paintings or Martono’s art intimates, but of the long term human and societal outcomes of war and political strife.

“The place where you were born has always a deep influence on you as a person.” – Patrick Altes

The private view was held on Thursday the 19th of May and the Fair continued until Sunday the 22nd of May at Art16, Olympia, Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UX, UK.

For pictures of the event please click here.

Click here to return to the timeline of exhibitions.