Abeer Elkhateb: Within the Circle of Life

About

Abeer draws inspiration for his sculptures and paintings from internal inquiries: contemplating his life and observations of the world around him. Starting with a simple idea, a drawing takes shape. He allows this to grow and show its dimensions -- organically developing into a story, a new idea, or a moment that generates a strongly felt emotion.

Born in Baghdad, Abeer grew up in a warm family: since childhood he has had a love for creating things with his hands and finding solutions to problems. Abeer was guided and inspired by his father who taught him how to work with metal and understand engineering mechanisms. Abeer completed the Art Academy course in Baghdad and then moved to Holland. He later moved to London where he completed his MA in Fine Art at UAL University.

Abeer’s more recent works have focused mainly on a narrative style in which he explores intimacy between lovers and the emotions that come with close relationships: passion, tenderness, joy, conflict, being held, feeling protected and sharing your true nature. These have been inspired by the love and devotion for Abeer's beloved wife and the coming of their child. In Abeer's large-scale paintings, this theme is held in a circle which symbolizes the idea that “there is no beginning nor an end”. The viewer is invited to see the painting from whichever angle he or she is facing it from, internally and externally.