Biography
From a very early age Abdul Rauf Khalfan felt the need to create and express himself. Having vastly changed his style over the years, Khalfan draws his inspiration from his vivid imagination, a passion for local heritage and his dreams. His colourful representations of tradition Emirati themes make reference to Cubism while guarding a playful edge. He recently developed his unique style of adaptive art that he calls ‘rotating paintings’. These innovative pieces can be turned to hang four different ways allowing for a variety of options and a new work of art on one’s walls by simply rotating the paintings. Khalfan was inspired to create changeable artworks while watching the sun set at the beach and observing the play of light on objects and its ability to change the way we perceive them. Among several group shows, he held his first solo exhibition in the Yas Viceroy Hotel in 2011.
Artist Statement
With colourful and bold compositions, the objects I represent act as symbols.A white bird is always included in my paintings as an entity that understands the meaning of love. As human beings, I believe we need to show love. The date palm is a strong, solid tree. For me it embodies confidence. I enjoy using bright primary colours like red, blue and yellow the most. I respect these colours.
My work is a search for forms that are buried in the culture and stories of the Emirates. I believe that where ever you go in life, you need to come back home one day. The most beautiful things in life are the most simple. Interestingly enough, simplicity is the most difficult thing to achieve. These are the notions I’m working though on my canvases.
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