Artist Statement
The body displayed in egg shell white is sheltered from the endless night. In my current paintings, I have been working on life sized nude figures in front of a white curtain, as well as life sized still-life of raw meats assembled on plates in front of a white curtain. I explore the reality of people’s bodies, and the reality of people’s skin conveying who they are in their vulnerability. I also explore the visceral reality of animal bodies. For example, the meaty textures of a lamb shank or the bumpiness of chicken skin. Raw meat and the nude body are both unarmored: people arm themselves by covering they’re bodies with clothing before going out into the public sphere. Likewise, meat is armored by being cooked and garnished. My work strips these defenses, so as to reveal the rawness of reality. At the same time, there is a tension between painting a raw body and idealizing it into an aesthetic form. My work also includes carpets and furniture on which the bodies showcase themselves. I usually like working from wood grain and also chairs with plush cushions. In my work, I tend to use Persian rugs that I collect. The interior spaces I paint, evoke memories of my childhood: my grandmother had a room dedicated for guests in which there was a vast Persian rug, French styled chairs decked in floral design, and thick violet rose colored curtains sheltering the interior. In this regard, the curtain, in my work, protects the body by giving it the space to reveal itself.
- Omar Harb