Ayyam Gallery presents a retrospective exhibition of the late Syrian artist Leila Nseir titled ‘Istoria: A Retrospective Reimagining Middle Eastern Feminism with Leila Nseir,’ paying tribute to her enduring legacy and artistic contributions. This exhibition was supported by The Samawi Collection, the Barjeel Foundation, and other contributors like Ahmad Kasha, showcasing Nseir’s impact on art and feminism.
This retrospective is a dialogue between past and present, exploring the enduring power of heritage and self-expression. Nseir’s evocative use of colour, form, and narrative invites the viewers to reflect on cultural identity and the human experience.
Nseir’s work reflects her deep connection to Middle Eastern culture and her commitment to addressing social issues such as conflict, inequality, and gender persecution. Despite facing patriarchal constraints and health challenges, she remained a pioneering figure in the art world. Initially abandoning sculpture due to societal pressures deeming it “too masculine,” Nseir shifted her focus to painting and drawing. Her journey led to experimentation with various media, including acrylics, graphite, pastels, and monotype woodcut prints, after oil paint poisoning forced her to adapt her artistic process.
Her artwork, shaped by humanist concerns, seamlessly blends intimacy and complexity, exploring the intersection of personal and collective struggles. The use of Istoria—narrative through figure composition—speaks to the diaspora, migration, and the tension between tradition and modernity. Her female subjects often represent Syria itself, embodying strength, complexity, and resilience.
Nseir’s decision to leave her artworks untitled and undated emphasises their timeless, universal themes. Drawing inspiration from ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian art, her work transcends genre and narrative boundaries, challenging gender conventions and the role of women in Arab society.
Guided Tour of the exhibition
Ayyam Gallery takes us on a guided tour of the retrospective by highlighting three works in the exhibition:
Pioneering modernist Leila Nseir is known for her superb draftsmanship in addition to her reinterpretation of historical forms as a means of depicting reality. Initially finding artistic inspiration in the region’s ancient civilisations, Nseir often employed mythology as an allegory for life, and later worked in realism, expressionism, surrealism, and even abstraction, all while experimenting with various media and techniques. Today, her paintings have traces of these different stages of her oeuvre, indicating the journey of a seasoned artist who has frequently embarked on new creative paths.
Born in Latakia, Syria in 1941, Nseir graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo in 1963 and later taught at the University of Damascus. She began her artistic career during the height of Syrian modernism and developed a focus akin to the work of her friend the late Louay Kayyali, whose paintings depict the fragile nature of the human condition and the experiences of the disenfranchised. Although exploring similar themes, Nseir’s female subjects added the question of gender norms and the status of women in Arab society. Nseir’s bold attempt to broaden the social narrative of Syrian art quickly established her importance, serving as an inspiration to aspiring women artists.
Possessing an extensive exhibition history, Nseir has participated in artistic events worldwide. A leading painter of her generation, she was honoured by the Syrian Ministry of Culture for her contributions to art in both 1968 and 1999. Nseir’s work can be found in the National Museum of Damascus and numerous private collections throughout the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America. She has spent most of her life in her native Syria.
At the centre, a figure cradles her torso, suggesting pregnancy, with an anguished expression and turmoil reflected in her eyes, addressing life and mourning loss.
This duality captures the essence of a nation rich in culture and beauty, yet deeply scarred by conflict: both personal and collective experiences of trauma. Through “The Nation” Nseir offers an intimate and powerful ode to Syria, intertwining sorrow with resilience and beauty.
This deeply personal self-portrait, adorned in bridal attire, captures the complexity of her relationship with her art, which she considers her true partner. The subtle tears represent the sacrifices made in choosing her craft over conventional relationships, illuminating the liberating yet burdensome nature of her commitment.
The composition is rich with texture, blending muted colours, reflecting the beauty of the moment and the weight of emotions beneath the surface.
A pregnant woman personifies Syria itself, with a posture that conveys vulnerability and strength.
The back-to-back figures symbolise the children of Syria, unity and continuity one carrying the weight of history and the promise of the future. Rendered with a blend of abstract and figurative elements, reflecting the complexity of their identities and experiences; a reminder of the cyclical nature of history and the burdens borne by each generation.
Location: Ayyam Gallery, Dubai
Dates: 18 September – 12 November 2024
