Omran Al Kaysi⠀
Untitled (The Wounded Lion of Babylon)⠀
1996⠀
Oil on canvas⠀
22 x 50 cm
In “Untitled” (The Wounded Lion of Babylon), Omran Al Kaysi paints a lion injured by three spears each of which represents the separate wars which occurred within the last thirty years in Iraq. Symbolic of the country struggling to survive and heal the wounds from those wars, the tragedy and the determination of lion is apparent as he tries to move forward. Artist, historian, and art critic, Lebanese-Iraqi Omran Al-Kaysi (1940) is well-known for his artwork and writings throughout the Arab world.
He has shown internationally with exhibitions in Lebanon, Canada, Iraq, Jordan, Spain, Saudi Arabia, UK, USA, Russia, Japan, Brazil and around the African continent. His work is the collections of the Contemporary Art Museum, Boston; Royal Court Jeddah, Royal Jordanian Museum, Bagdad Contemporary Art Museum and the Beiteddine Museum. His writing is published in various art magazines, newspapers and publications including: Ontological Study: Aref el Rayess; Path of Peace; and Abdel Halim Ridawi & Contemporary Saudi Art.
