Tabari Artspace Gallery, Dubai exhibited a collection of works by renowned Egyptian Artist Khaled Zaki entitled Hymns of Gold.
On this body of work Zaki suggests:
"In 1258 Tatars attacked Baghdad, destroying the beauty and luster of this ancient city while 2 million Muslims lost their lives. This then extended throughout the Levant, where other cities met the same fate. The end came at the borders of Egypt where the Tatars were finally defeated. Moreover, the armies of the Tatars, Georgia , and the Principality of Antioch Crusaders were also involved in attacks along with the use of Chinese explosives experts. Armenians and Georgians, Persians and Turks were also part of the siege.
It must be noted that in addition to the main Tatars army and its non-Muslims allies and along with them within the ranks of army Muslim troops were all a part of doctrines from religious Muslim communities. It was a bleak and dark time lit only by the light from Sufi hymns of (Rumi 1207-1273) and residue of the Sufihymns of (Ibn Arabi 1164-1240 ). Were poets recognise that (people’s love and tolerance to each other in their different races , beliefs and sects) is the only way and only evidence of (people’s love to God). They were words of pure gold. In 2016 Today is like yesterday, we are in need of those precious hymns of gold."
In this exhibition Khaled Zaki’s passion for the ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean arts and his deep concern about the resurrection is expressed through his sculptural works across form, technique and colour. Prior to the 2011 Egyptian revolution, Zaki focused primarily on abstract forms. Following the Revolution, he has transitioned to a more figurative style, aiming to capture the feelings and dreams of Egyptians.
Born in Suez, Egypt in 1964, sculptor Khaled Zaki holds a Bachelor in Business from the Faculty of Commerce and a Master's in Restoration from the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University. Zaki studied Sculpture at the Al Khonany Museum of Art in Giza and perfected his use of stone and bronze in the various workshops in Pietrasanta Lu, Italy.
A versatile artist, Zaki has been commended on his painting and in 2000, won a national competition for the design and execution of a monumental sculpture in Galan Square, Cairo. During the Egyptian revolution of January 25th his works had been clearly moved from abstract to a combination between figurative and abstract where the artist with his style and in his own way could capture and express the feelings, dreams, and expectations of those living today within Egyptian and Arab society.
In 2013 Zaki represented his homeland in the Egypt Pavilion of the Venice Biennale. Zaki has participated in global exhibitions and symposiums. His works can be found in the Egyptian Museum for Modern Art, Cairo, and Egyptian Museum for Modern Sculpture in Aswan, and in private collections in the United States, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Kuwait, UAE and KSA.
