Construction of Light and Shadow
Rashid Al Khalifa’s primary theme is light; making it visible and tangible through his artworks
Black & White Spectrum (2021/2021) by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
Black & White Spectrum
From an early stage Rashid Al Khalifa's efforts have been directed towards depicting his perception and experience of light. In the latter context, colours increasingly play a role through the teinture on his enamels on aluminium.
Parametric White by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
Parametric White, Rashid Al Khalifa
Rashids paints on steel and aluminium; the surfaces whereof are better suited to realising his vision of light.
To achieve his play of light, he works on the surfaces in their entirety, gives them structure, covers them with a complex, filigree network of lines.
Parametric White2 by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
By inserting small aluminium plates of various sizes into this network of horizontals and verticals, he creates a three-dimensionality
Untitled, white hybrid (21st century) by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
Thus transforming the work into a vibrating medium of light and space.
Standing Mobile
Through his usage of steel and aluminium, Rashid's creates three dimensional networks of lines, transforming them into a vibrating medium of light and space.
Standing Mobile (2022/2022) by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
White Spectrum
A further element in many of the works is the colour with which the
surfaces are covered. In some cases with great subtlety, which only becomes apparent on closer inspection.
The influences of Islamic architecture are unmistakable – as are the principles of geometry underlying the oriental ornaments, the arabesques, and the Arabic numerical systems.
Pink Circle (2021) by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
Pink Circle
In his designs, the surfaces of his objects are reminiscent of the principle of oriental carpet weaving or the 'mashrabiyas'; the ornamented windows made of carved, or turned wood arranged in geometric patterns that we generally associate with the Orient.
They filter the sunlight, provide coolness, and create sophisticated light patterns in the interior spaces.
One cannot see from the outside in, but indeed from the inside out.
The dark and the bright side of the moon (2012) by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
The dark and the bright side of the moon
Visible patterns consists of individual, differently patterned surfaces which, when placed on top of eachother, create the overall pattern.
Turquoise enamel (21st century) by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
There is a play with the visible and the hidden. In the three-dimensionality, the patterned layers, superimposed and interlocked, create areas of light and shadow.
Installation1 (2019) by Rashid Al KhalifaRoyal Bridges
Filtering light
Rashid's carefully crafted, multi-layered constructs based on precise
numbers achieve the desired goal: a complex play of light and shadow.
'Construction of Light and Shadow' by Bahraini artist Rashid Al Khalifa was on display at Galerie Hotel Mond Fine Arts in Berlin, and subsequently moved to the Rosenhang Museum in Weilburg, Hesse, Germany.
The exhibitions are curated by Dr. Karin von Roques.
Analogous 'Spectrum'-line artworks by Rashid Al Khalifa are exhibited at Liechtenstein National Museum from 15 June through 4 September 2022.
