A TALENTED Bahraini artist will showcase her never-before-seen original, abstract and impressionist paintings on canvas at an exhibition next week, marking her sixth solo expo.
Limitless – Original Artworks by Areej Rajab, presented by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, will be held at the Art Centre at Bahrain National Museum from Tuesday to November 23.
“I have 20 pieces – what inspired this work was the thought of limitless borders,” said the 41-year-old.
“I’m suggesting there are no outlines to any object, that the outline is something our society forces on us. There are no borders around any object, while emphasising on the aura, the beauty of the aura, how colour can be, what shapes it can take.”
The mother-of-three who works from her home-based studio said she works simultaneously on four to five canvases at a time.
“There is one theme and there are strokes in common that connect the works together to create harmony.
“This exhibition is a huge step; it’s been three years since I had a solo expo.
“This exhibition is the beginning of a tour and part of things that I will be participating in outside the country, but I wanted it to start here in Bahrain.”
Mr Rajab, who found her love of art at age three, recalled fondly of how she was taught and inspired by her aunt – traditional water-colourist Sameeha Rajab.
“I picked up a brush before a pen.
“I was taught by my late aunt, who is a classic Bahraini painter, and then it kept going on and never stopped.
“Now, I have reached a point where I like expressive art, such as Jackson Pollock, and abstract expressionism.”
She said the upcoming exhibition is more comprehensive than anything she has ever done and that she has put everything she knows into it.
“I hope visitors take away the passion for colours and the power of colours; you can express with colours and only colours.
“You don’t really have to give out a shape or something that people will relate to, colours are so powerful.
“For this exhibition, I have used canvas with acrylic, oils, oil pastels, inks, everything.
“The Limitless theme is how I see things and I wanted to share that with everyone.”
Entry to the exhibition, which will be open to the public Saturday to Thursday, from 10am to 7pm, is free and all the works are available to purchase.
For further information, visit www.areej-rajab.com.