For Omar Hassan, time is a subject of research, a unit of measurement, and an artistic obsession. “Upside Down”, the exhibition curated by Maria Savarese, opens on February 22 at the Palazzo delle Arti Napoli (Via dei Mille, 60 Naples) and marks Hassan’s first-ever show in Naples. Promoted by the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Naples, and organized in collaboration with the Alberto Peruzzo Foundation, Prometeo Gallery, and the Cavaliere del Lavoro Alberto Giacomini Foundation, with technical and organizational coordination by Editori Paparo, the exhibition will be open to the public from February 23 to March 28. It features all-new works created specifically for PAN and the city of Naples.
At 33, the son of an Italian mother and an Egyptian father and a student of Alberto Garutti, a major figure in Italian contemporary art, Hassan has embarked on this new journey as a rite of passage—a transformation, a step beyond his previous explorations. Stripping his artistic gestures of color to reveal the true essence of his concepts, Hassan has sought to develop a politics of the intérieur, highlighting the intimate aspects of his work. He does so by working with black and white, the protagonists in this effort to emphasize synthesized artistic gestures, where color becomes a fundamental bridge for the artist’s expression.
“Upside Down” invites reflection on the importance of the individual in society (through elements such as bottle caps and sculptures) and the attention we should give to the places we inhabit and where our children will live. The perspective offered by the works is both critical and affectionate. Critical, as it engages with the energy of the city; affectionate, as it seeks to enhance its strength.
As curator Maria Savarese notes in her exhibition commentary:
"From Omar Hassan’s works, one perceives the movement of the artist as he paints, senses the initial colors he used, and feels the strength he imparted to every single drop. Painting becomes a gesture, and every gesture becomes a mark on the canvas. The saturation of the pictorial space results in the total inclusion of the viewer in the dimension created by the artist, a dimension of pure expression, unmediated even by mimesis."
For Omar Hassan, art also emerges as a need and a rebirth, as an expression of emotions, an explosion of energy, and a synthesis of design. His works reflect various contemporary influences: the street art culture in the “Injections” series, the action painting referencing his Egyptian roots and Islamic art, the boxing-inspired “Breaking Through” series (featuring 121 large-scale paintings that synthesize gesture, including two new works from the Breaking Through Black series to be displayed in Naples), and the “Time Lines” series.
Poster
“Upside Down” by Omar Hassan
Curated by Maria Savarese
February 23 – March 28, 2020
Opening: February 22 at 5:00 PM
Palazzo delle Arti Napoli (Via dei Mille, 60 Naples)
Promoted by the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Naples
In collaboration with the Alberto Peruzzo Foundation, Prometeo Gallery, and the Cavaliere del Lavoro Alberto Giacomini Foundation
Technical and organizational coordination by Editori Paparo
Press Office: RARE Comunicazioni
.avif)
