Formation (Circle)

Salim al-Dabbagh created “Formation (Circle)” during his art residency in Madinat Khalifa, Qatar, under the patronage of Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani. Its circular form lends the work a distinctive presence, while the monochrome palette reflects a recurring element in Al Dabbagh’s practice.

Al-Dabbagh draws inspiration from many sources including mythology and early black-and-white television. By limiting his colours, he encouraged viewers to slow down and look more deeply.

For Al-Dabbagh, shades of black and white contained multitudes. They symbolized the meeting point between the visible and invisible, darkness and light, mass and space among others. By focusing on texture, form, and colour, he created complex compositions that have become important to the development of modern art in Iraq.