Rashid Khalifa's Penumbra exhibition at Saatchi Gallery

The exhibition entitled "Penumbra: Textured Shadow, Coloured Light", held at Saatchi Gallery from 3-21 October 2018, brings together exciting new 3-dimensional works by Middle-Eastern artist Rashid Khalifa.

Rashid Khalifa, Site-specific grid maze from the series Penumbra, 2018. Enamel on steel bars. W 400 x L 1193 x H 230cm. Photography: whodoeswhat.tv. Courtesy of the artist

Born in Bahrain and travelled to the UK in 1972, Rashid studied Art and Design at Brighton and Hastings Art College. His London debut invites the viewer to experience the beauty of textured shadows and light cast through polychromatic metal structures.

Rashid's artistic practice has evolved from landscapes in the 70's and early 80's, to the fusion of figurative and abstract work in the late 80's. In recent years, Rashid has experimented with metal surfaces, creating openings in his aluminium wall works and revealing the intimate space behind the surface, usually kept out of view. Penumbra takes this approach a step further, exploring changes in spatial experience depending on the viewer’s position.

Upon entering the first exhibition space, the audience encounters convex wall works adorned with colourful flaps that suggest a feeling of movement. Rashid refers to the wall-mounted aluminium pieces, whose intricate patterns are based on sophisticated mathematical geometric design, as ‘parametric sculptures.’

Rashid Khalifa. Mobile from the series Penumbra, 2018 Enamel on steel bars. Various dimensions. Photo: Marine Terlizzi. Courtesy of the artist

In the centre of the room, three-tiered columns wreathed with geometric flaps are suspended from the ceiling. There is tension created between the vibrant and ornate steel grids and the calmness of the voids within, just out of reach of the viewer in a realm of semi-privacy.

Rashid Khalifa, Parametric work from the series Penumbra, 2018 Matte enamel on aluminium. 150 x 450cm. Photo: Marine Terlizzi. Courtesy of the artist 

In the second exhibition space, the viewer is confronted with a colourful maze, a colossal grid structure that reimagines the shapes and tones of an urban environment, and explores architecture, city planning and memories. Rashid comments: ‘I was inspired by winding narrow alleyways and traditional architecture. I would like the audience to experience the maze as a conceptual entity – a spiritual journey with no fixed destination.’

The exhibition is presented by Bahrain National Gas and curated and produced by Eva McGaw and Tatiana Palinkasev.