Farouk Kondakji’s landscapes not only capture scenes impressionistically, they take on an almost spiritual quality. Within his layers of paint and mystical use of colour, there is a distinct synergy that possibly references the artist’s statement: "My paintings are the only photographs that resemble me.”
Born in Herns, Syria, Farouk Kondakji (1958) graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Damascus University and is an active figure in the art world. His use of colour is not only a reflection of nature but takes on a calm and meditative state with his brushwork rendering a scene that has transcendental qualities. His natural palettes and dense abstraction are also recognisable markers in his work.
Kondakji's paintings have been featured in institutions internationally, including at the Damascus Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art in Shanghai, and Qatar National Museum, as well as having numerous solo shows in China, Europe and throughout the Middle East. He was awarded the Diplome D’Honneur de Peinture from Aix-En-Provence, France, known as the city of Impressionism.