Displacement, exile, and the quest for identity: Christie's London celebrates the timeless legacy of late Syrian artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi in a major retrospective

As part of its London Summer Season, a series of auctions, exhibitions, and events celebrating the vibrancy of London, Christie’s has opened its doors to the public for a non-selling exhibition dedicated to the late Syrian-born artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi (1934-2016).

The exhibition, titled Marwan: A Soul in Exile, will run until 22 August and is the third in a series of summer exhibitions, following Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World in 2023 and Ahmed Mater: Chronicles in 2024.

Marwan, a key figure in modern and contemporary art, is renowned for his unique style that blends German Neo-Expressionism with themes of Arab identity and political struggle. It was his move to Germany, after studying Arabic literature in Damascus, that established him as a prominent figure in the post-war German art scene.

“It is a privilege to present this retrospective of Marwan’s work at Christie’s London," Ridha Moumni, curator of the exhibition and chairman of Christie’s Middle East and Africa, tells The New Arab. 

"Marwan was a singular voice in modern and contemporary art — a master of figurative expression whose faces, or rather landscapes of his soul, reflect both personal and social struggle with astonishing depth. His lifelong engagement with spirituality and the human condition places him among the most profound and original painters of the 20th century,” Ridha added. 

“While his work has long been celebrated in major collections across Germany, the Middle East, and internationally, this exhibition seeks to deepen recognition of his legacy and bring deserved attention to his place within the broader narrative of modern and contemporary art.”

What to expect

The exhibition features highlights of Marwan's work, such as Ohne Titel (Untitled), Der Verhüllte (The Covered), Marionette, Der Freund (The Friend), and Kopf (Head).

To trace Marwan’s artistic development, the retrospective begins with his early years in Damascus, where he painted Landschaft bei Damaskus in 1953, a piece now on loan from the Berlinische Galerie-Museum of Modern Art, Photography, and Architecture.

The exhibition then takes viewers through Marwan’s move to Berlin in 1957, where he studied at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste and graduated in 1963. 

His early works were mostly abstract, but over time, he began to focus on the human figure, often depicting androgynous or erotic forms, with distorted perspectives and limbs that blended into the background.

By the 1970s, Marwan began to focus more on the human face, a shift that reflected his feelings of being an outsider in Europe and his search for self-identity.

During this time, Marwan used the face as a metaphor for the complex human soul. His paintings mixed abstraction and figuration, with bold brushstrokes and layered surfaces that created large, intimate, yet slightly distorted images.

Beyond the 1970s, visitors can also expect to see additional works Marwan created throughout the following decades, up until 2014.

A universal voice

As a visitor to this exhibition, it's essential to note that, despite Marwan’s integration into post-war German society and his connections with influential German Expressionist artists like Georg Baselitz and Eugen Schönebeck, he never lost touch with his Syrian roots.

Throughout his career, Marwan remained focused on social and political issues in the Middle East, using his art to explore themes of displacement and identity.

Speaking to The New Arab about why it was important to present a retrospective of Marwan’s work, Ridha shared: “I think there is always time to do a retrospective on his work. What drew me to Marwan’s work is mainly the depth; I’ve always been drawn to his work, and I think it is one of the most important works by the greatest painter from the Arab diaspora who moved to Europe more than 60 years ago.

“I still believe that Marwan’s art is not widely known to the general public — perhaps in Germany it’s more recognised, but overall, not many people are familiar with his work or have the opportunity to see it. I think anyone can be drawn to his art. He explores themes of exile, displacement, and other issues that resonate with many today. That’s really the reason we wanted to feature Marwan — an incredible artist whose work is, in many ways, timeless.”

When asked what visitors can take away from the exhibition, Ridha said, “I want viewers to see how an artist working with the notion of displacement, exile, and the quest for identity — especially when he moved to Germany and developed his work there — created one of the richest bodies of work ever produced by an artist from the Arab world.

“There are a few things I want people to understand. First, the inspiration an artist can find in himself when exploring topics as complex as those Marwan tackled. I want people to see this depth in his work," he explained. 

“I also love when artists move, change, and travel. Through their travels, they gain new perspectives, techniques, and approaches. This is part of the richness of the artist, not only in the Arab world but also in the broader diaspora. Marwan is an incredible example of this.

“Arab or not, I truly believe Marwan is universal. He has developed his work around universal themes. His exhibition is not only for Arab people; they will also see traces of 'Arab-ness', Arab roots, and familiar places like Damascus and other places from the Arab world," Ridha continued. 

“Marwan addresses existential questions in his work, making it universally relatable. I hope this exhibition will attract people from all over — not just from the Arab world, but from all parts of the globe.”

For more information on the exhibition, visit the Christie’s website

Zainab Mehdi is The New Arab's Associate Editor and researcher specialising in governance, development, and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa region

Follow her on Instagram: @zaiamehdi_/@zainabmehdiwrites_