Born 1966
“The way nature affects surfaces, walls, rocks, signs, stones etc. makes me feel ancient times og the age that has passed. It makes me look back and in memory (daydream) to recreate the enchanting drawings and abstract symbols og figures drawn on Sumerian seal and boards. It brings me back to earth colours and the magical fantasy world. All these compilations and oxidations on the surface of the picture is only an attempt to recreate the sum of all these experiences.”
Hussein Tai
With these words Hussein Tai explains his paintings, this tells us about a near and thoughtful relationsship to his homecountry Iraq. But also of a new existence in Denmark with happiness and a thriving continuance of his artistic career which started in Iraq. These relationships has a strong importance for the paintings genesis, which is inspired by “tracks” from past times in both Iraq and Denmark. Based on studies in the art of graphics and engravings Hussein Tai explores engravings among The Mesopotamiens remains (sumerian, babylonian, assyrian). A simple sign in the cylindrical temples, parchments and clay tablets can store a immensely long history, and a large memory just like the old house walls in Iraq and Denmark does. It is a beautiful and exiting thought which ascribes that even the smallest track or the smallest bump in the wall is of importance, because it could have been applied in a short second in a persons life, a situation, a war or in a age.
With origins in this fascination for old tracks and signs as a shape Hussein Tai seeks the perspectives reduction to a surface of symbols, graphic effects and architectural abstractions. The textural surface and unfinished form as a instrument is achieved by the use of mixed media among others acrylic paint, cardboard and glue. The effect is an abstract, aesthetic form where the tracks from an ancient world is discerned among life-affirming colors and light.
Lena Larsen, cand.mag. – Bredgade Kunsthandel
