Abstract

In the “Carnaval of Darwiches,” Sana Gallery and the Middle East Institute presented an extensive collection of contemporary art and masterpieces by a doyen of Lebanese artists, Raouf Rifai. Rifai’s Darwiches are an extensive body of work created by the artist over the past several years.

Rifai’s dedication to the Darwich resembles that of Paul Klee and his angels. Like Klee’s angels, Rifai’s Darwiches are many and varied. They share some common characteristics, foremost the fact that they are all rooted in human existence: They have weaknesses and flaws, a myriad of expressions, attitudes and emotions; they are the simple common man and the Sufi mystic; they are secular and spiritual; they are handsome and ugly; they are stupid yet at the time wiser than everyone around them; they are full of worries or playful; they cry yet derive humor from everyday tasks; In short, we recognize ourselves in them, they are us.

The paintings selected for the exhibition paint a wide canvas of the Middle East’s social and political conundrums.

“The Middle East in its reality resembles a circus, or a theatrical play, where you have your heroes and villains monsters and angels, as well as the brave and the cowardly,” says Rifai, “I want to give them all a role, and highlight how society and politicians under-estimate the common man at their own peril.” “My art’s main subject is Humanity; It is nourished by the history of our civilization and our heritage.” .