Christie's London hosts largest Marwan exhibition exploring Syrian artist's exile legacy

Christie's London presents "Marwan: A Soul in Exile," the most extensive exhibition to date of Syrian-born artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi's work, featuring over 150 pieces across two floors. Curated by Dr Ridha Moumni, this non-selling summer exhibition highlights art from the Arab world, focusing on Marwan's profound exploration of identity shaped by his exile from Syria in 1957 and subsequent life in Germany until his 2016 death in Berlin. The exhibition opens with early Berlin works like "Sitzender (Seated Man)" (1966) and "Stehender (Standing Man)" (1966), where distorted figures convey alienation in Cold War Berlin. Marwan's "Facial Landscapes" from the 1970s transform faces into emotional topographies, leading to a 1976 retrospective at Große Orangerie Schloss Charlottenburg. Later "Heads" series, painted after his sister's 1983 death, serve as somber sentinels. Archival materials from 1990s exhibitions in Damascus, Amman, and Cairo, along with correspondence with figures like Said Baalbaki, underscore his enduring connection to the Arab world. The exhibition runs until 22 August.