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Mohamed Al Mufti

Mohamed Al Mufti

Mohamed Al-Mufti (born in Damascus, 1976) is a Syrian artist and teacher currently based in Beirut, Lebanon. His multifaceted career is deeply intertwined, with his architectural background significantly influencing both his artistic practice and his teaching at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA).

Al-Mufti moved to Versailles, France, in 1994 to pursue his studies in architecture at ENSAV (École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Versailles), from which he graduated in 2003. During his time in France, he established his own architecture firm, Atelier Mufti Architecture, which later had branches in Damascus and Beirut. His architectural work includes designing public schools in Syria and participating in international competitions.

He held his first art exhibition in France in 2003, and since then, his works have been featured in numerous galleries and museums across France, Italy, Finland, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates, including the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. Among his notable participations is the large-scale collective exhibition "Syrian–French", organized under the aim of fostering artistic exchange between Syria and France, in collaboration between the Arab World Museum and the National Museum of Syria.

Following the Syrian crisis, Al-Mufti moved to Beirut in 2012, where his artistic focus evolved to reflect the profound political and social changes in his homeland and adopted city.

Mohammad Al-Mufti identifies as a documentary artist, using his work to explore urban landscapes and their symbolic architectural structures. His style is a compelling blend of abstraction and figuration, interpreting themes of collective memory, identity, and the human condition. His deep knowledge of architecture is evident in his compositions, which frequently feature buildings, interiors, and cityscapes. He masterfully manipulates depth, perspective, light, and texture, often playing with angles and the absence of symmetry to create impactful visuals.

Al-Mufti's work actively engages with political and social narratives, particularly those arising from the crises in Syria and Lebanon. He questions the forms, symbols, and values of collective memory, aiming to document events objectively. His paintings often incorporate elements reminiscent of war, violence, or absurdity, serving as a visual archive of these turbulent times.

While his earlier works were more experimental, the onset of the Syrian crisis led him to confront reality directly. He often begins with abstract sketches, transforming real-world observations into powerful visual statements. This approach allows him to represent the "abstraction of human presence" and the "collapse and destruction of social order," as seen in works where realistic elements (like a tank) are juxtaposed with abstract lines.

For Al-Mufti, the strength and meaning of a work are more important than pure aesthetics. He believes that art must reflect the "ugly era" we live in, making it "ugly but theoretically beautiful." This philosophy enables him to use irony and even sarcasm in his titles and compositions, provoking thought and engagement from the viewer.

Overall, Mohammad Al-Mufti's art is a powerful and intellectual commentary on contemporary societal issues, utilizing his architectural sensibility and a unique fusion of abstract and figurative elements to document, question, and challenge the world around him.

 

Mohamed Al Mufti's Collection

Urbacide
$3,750.00
Size:

Acrylic & Oil on canvas

130*80 cm 

wall talks
$7,650.00
Size: Oil & Mixed media on canvas
185*115 cm