FASCINATION 1988

Rashid Al Khalifa made this painting, Fascination, with oil paint, at an unknown date. The surface is an ocean of muted blues, lilacs, and greens, pulled across the canvas in short, energetic strokes. It's as if the painting emerged through a kind of intuitive, searching process. Looking closely, you can see the artist's hand in the dance between opacity and transparency. These delicate touches of broken color create a shimmering, dreamlike effect, especially in the upper corners of the painting. The central form is only softly defined, fading into the swirling brushstrokes around it. This area reminds me of looking up at the sky, with the sun trying to burn through the clouds. The painting plays with light and shadow, depth and flatness. I'm reminded of Odilon Redon, and his atmospheric paintings, which also favor feeling over clear representation. This is a space that invites us to get lost in the artist's vision, embracing ambiguity and multiple readings.