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.