HOMAGE TO MAHMOUD DARWISH
By Mona Saudi and Dia Batal
 
26 March to 14 April 2013

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  One of Arab's foremost sculptors and printmaker, Mona Saudi, joins with her daughter, spatial designer Dia Batal for their first exhibition together at Jacaranda Images in Amman. To honour the memory of the late Mahmoud Darwish born in March 1942 and to celebrate Palestinian Land Day on March 30, the works are inspired by Darwish's poetry. Both artist's calligraphy and drawings add a new dimension to the words of Darwish.

  Mona Saudi's friendship with the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish began in the early 1970's. His poems influenced and resonated with Mona and others - "I am a poet with a particular perspective on reality," he said. The 7 drawings shown in 'Homage to Mahmoud Darwish' were created between 1976 and 1980, inspired by Darwish's poetry of that period. Phrases from 'Earth Poem', 'Hymn for the Green', 'Her Image' and 'Suicide of the Lover' became part of the composition of Mona's drawings. . The series was shown for the first time as a full set in 2012 in Beirut.

  “This collection of drawings was inspired by the poetry of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. It was intended to be my gift to him on his birthday in March 2009. However, his sudden death in August 2008 delayed my project… 'Et le Počte encore est parmi nous…' (Saint John Perse). So now, I bring out this homage to Darwish, a great poet, a friend and continuous source of inspiration.” Mona Saudi

  Since childhood Dia Batal was exposed to Mahmoud Darwish's poetry, listening to recordings of his recitals that her mother used to play at home, and going to his poetry recitals in Amman. During her university years in Beirut, he often came to hold recitals and recited the poems along with the crowds that knew his poems by heart.

  'Once at university I did an etching of the poem ' There is on this earth what is worth living for', and framed it for him. I wrote on the back: you may not know this, but your poetry is one of the things that are worth living for. I was so embarrassed to give it to him, but rang his door bell in Amman and quickly did. He always had it on his book shelves next to his library...'

  In this work for the exhibition, Dia found herself interested in using elements from her mother's work to build up the compositions. Mona's calligraphy work has always inspired her and she believes that Mona's work in poetry, text and the lines she uses have all informed Dia's current practice in incorporating text in her furniture and spatial design.

  Mahmoud Darwish wrote several dedications in books of his poetry to Dia, including one in the book 'Fewer Roses' which reads:

  Dear Dia, With you, roses become more plentiful..

Poets and artists turn to one another for inspiration, and the dialogue has been mutually beneficial. Between Mahmoud Darwish, Mona Saudi and Dia Batal, the friendship and respect as well as the dialogue was obviously one of mutual respect and admiration.

 

Previous Exhibitions

MOHAMMED AL SHAMMAREY - 'PAPER BOATS '

RAFIK MAJZOUB - 'X RAY '

SINA ATA - 'MAMNOO3 FORBIDDEN '

MIKE V. DERDERIAN - 'CIRQUE DU HABALEENO '

GHASSAN GHAIB WITH SCULPTURES BY AHMED AL BAHRANI - 'HANINE (NOSTALGIA) '

CHARLOTTA SPARRE - 'ABCD – A DREAM OF FOUR CITIES '

MOHAMMED AL SHAMMAREY - 'WASAT AL BALAD / DOWNTOWN'

TARIQ DAJANI - 'SAQR'

AMMAR KHAMMASH - 'FOSSILS OF TIME & LIGHT'

KARIN MAYER & AHMED AL KHALIDI - 'URBAN EXCHANGE'

BADER MAHASNEH - 'EXPOSURES'

GHADEER SAEED - 'MEMORIES OF LOVE & WAR'

SALEH ABU SHINDI - 'VOCABULARY OF LINES AND COLOUR'

MONA SAUDI - 'SONG FOR THE EQUINOX'

BADER MAHASNEH - 'SCULPTING THE WATER'

TARIQ DAJANI -  'ABOVE WADI RUM'

HAKIM JAMAIN -  '30 DAYS IN LUXOR'

ABORIGINAL ART - ANCIENT ABSTRACTIONS

3 DIMENSIONS, 3 JORDANIAN ARTISTS

SHEREEN AUDI - 'EXPRESSIONS OF A FREE SOUL'

FLOODED LONDON – FIVE IMAGES OF THE FUTURE

Contemporary Australian Indigenous Prints and Paintings

ASIL Photographs of Arabian Horses by Tariq Dajani at Zara Centre Gallery

Didgeridoo … da..da