Dr. Ala Bashir’s paintings, which are part of the Forgetfulness exhibition in Dubai, explore the art of forgetting and its significance to the human psyche. The capacity for forgetting, which is frequently disregarded, is a crucial component of having a positive outlook, according to Iraqi artist Bashir, whose work is currently on display at the Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation through Sunday. His most recent production highlights the importance of “forgetting” the past for our general wellbeing.
Bashir reportedly said that “If you don’t forget things you won’t be able to forgive, it’s a process of healing and cleansing, you get rid of the hate inside you, and have power to overcome your anger.”
“This is the main function of art, to make you heal,” he says, when describing the paintings on the walls of the foundation. Bashir, a painter, sculptor, and plastic surgeon who was born in 1939, is renowned for his depictions of human consciousness in his works. His surrealist aesthetic is frequently contrasted with that of the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali, whose contentious subjects that challenged social mores sought to shock the world.
The majority of Bashir’s paintings display his perspective on reality, which is one that most people frequently ignore. His pieces frequently feature chairs, headless bodies, and unusually shaped objects. There are 27 sketches and 23 oil paintings on canvas in the exhibition. Bashir also gave a lecture about his style and technique at the gallery during the exhibition’s opening.
