Noor Soussi
Head of Department
Collected Narratives: Works from the AbdulMagid Breish Collection
Lot 25AR
Suad Al Attar(Iraq, born 1942)Baghdadi Houses
5 June 2024, 15:30 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £23,040 inc. premium
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Nima Sagharchi
Group Head
Suad Al Attar (Iraq, born 1942)
Baghdadi Houses
oil on canvas
signed "Suad Al Attar" and dated "85" (lower right), executed in 1985
60 x 90cm (23 5/8 x 35 7/16in).
oil on canvas
signed "Suad Al Attar" and dated "85" (lower right), executed in 1985
60 x 90cm (23 5/8 x 35 7/16in).
Footnotes
Provenance:
Property from the collection of AbdulMagid Breish, London
Exhibited:
The National Museum of Modern Art, Suad Al Attar solo exhibition,Kuwait, 1985
Published:
Louisa Macmillan, Mysa Kafil-Hussain et others, In Vested Interests: from Passion to Patronage, The AbdulMagid Breish Collection of Arab Art, Skira, Milan, 2020
Nesma Shubber, Suad AL-Attar, Heni, London, 2023, p.115
"I treat cities like human beings, they are not just visual"
- Suad Al Attar
"Baghdadi Houses" is set against what initially appears to be a black background but upon closer inspection, reveals a very dark green hue. This choice of colour is particularly meaningful, as green not only symbolizes life and vegetation but is also an important colour in Arab culture, often associated with paradise in Islamic art. The subtle variation of green provides a depth that suggests the vitality and richness of Baghdad's historical and cultural landscape.
The composition of the painting portrays a series of houses and architectural structures, each rendered with meticulous detail that reflects the traditional Baghdadi style. The artwork captures the essence of what the city symbolizes to many—its storied past that includes tales from "1001 Nights," the reign of Harun al-Rashid, and the cultural flourishing of the Abbasid Caliphate's Golden Age. Al-Attar's choice to depict these elements under the light of a single moon adds a layer of tranquillity and timelessness to the composition
Suad Al-Attar is an artist who has skilfully bridged the realms of the personal and the universal, often drawing upon her experiences and memories of Iraq before her emigration. Her work is characterized by a unique style that incorporates elements of surrealism and symbolism, often using traditional motifs and narratives to address broader themes of time, memory, and identity. Al-Attar's art has been exhibited internationally, earning her recognition as one of the foremost contemporary artists from the Middle East.