Out of the Desert

Salt of the South
Graphic art exhibition by Hakim Jamain


Petra inspires Hakim Jamain, a Jordanian artist whose etchings / printings (on zinc plates) are renditions of the famous city where he spent much time, soaking in the place and its history.

The mostly sepia coloured works both seem to show the passage of time and are closest to the colour of the rose-red city.

Stone heads and torsos, coins, seals populate Jamain’s printings. The arid region landscape is depicted in painstaking detail. The “classical” effigies are often placed at odd angles (sideways, upside down), their perfect beauty jarring the disarrayed landscape surrounding them.

Stylised lines become a long-horned animal in a series of four smaller works; three others are more abstract, yet one feels the sand of the desert permeating everything, encroaching on the desert vegetation. And, inevitably, the Treasury makes its way into the artist’s works, in ochre brown, reddish hues, sitting under a canopy of parchment with floral motifs, giving the impression of collage and disclosing the artist’s talent.

Arabic script and Greek letters are present in this rich interpretation of Petra, its surroundings and life. Wavy, groovy images make up landscape, houses, narrow gorges, explosion of stars, all that is Petra known or yet to be discovered.


read full article by Ica Wahbeh, Jordan Times - June 1, 2006

Biography

Born in Wadi El Seer, Jordan, 1965

2003 Specialized in "Print Making", The Hague Royal Academy, Holland
1997-2001 Studied "Architectural Art and Design", The Hague Royal Academy, Holland
1995 Post diploma degree, Cova Art School, Milan, Italy
1995 Bachelor degree in Arts from Milan Fine Arts Academy
1990 Studied "Nude Drawing", Academy of Fine Arts, Perugia, Italy

Solo Exhibitions
2002 Al-Anda Gallery, Amman, Jordan
1999 Artists Association, the Hague, Holland
1997 Kunst Greep Gallery, Holland
1995 A.R.T.E. Gallery, Milan, Italy
1992 Caos Gallery, Holland

Group Exhibitions
2006 12th Asian Art Biennale, Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka
2005 Art Book Biennale, Alexanderia, Egypt
2005 3rd Biennale of Contemporary Art of Islamic World, Tehran
2004 Contemporary Jordanian Art, Paris, France
2004 Seville Museum, Seville, Spain
2004 Contemporary Graphic Art, Academy of Arts
2004 Intenational Competition for Graphic Art, Sora, Italy
2004 Black Art Exhibition, The Hague Royal Academy
2003 Hues, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman
2003 Group Exhibition, The Hague Royal Academy, Holland
2000 Jordanian Art Exhibition, Rabbat, Morocco

2005 "Imagining the Book" workshop, Alexanderia, Egypt
2004 Artists of the Mediterranean Conference, Spain

Art Books
Created three art books, using graphic art (etching, lithograph, silk screen and wood cut).

Awards
2005 1st prize, Jordanian Artists Association Exhibition
2004 2nd prize, International Graphic Competition, Italy