As a graduate of the Department of
interior Design at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Samman spent many
years working hard on the structure of his picture panel in
order to create distinguished interior scenes.
Most of his compositions reflect
the Damascus environment, which played a vital role in
catalyzing his imagination by its architecture. He therefore
depicts local arches, pillars, faience, and sometimes he adds
decorative lighting and oriental ornamentations with a very
personal style. "I believe that we have to produce art with a
local flavour, art that looks similar to us, and similar to the
time we live in," said the artist.
Samman's
figurative paintings also highlight "people and relationships"
themes, where he can escape to less difficult times and find
refuge in lovelier moments portraying friendly Damascene scenes
of family receptions, social gatherings of friends and
relations. He sometimes inserts animal figures such as
cats, doves and fish. These compositions are expressed using
rich colourful lines and various decorative forms. He endeavours
to create his canvas like a theatre prop by painting the
settings, figures and light in a very dramatic way. "I have a
special relation with theatre because on the stage you see
visual things without any separate borders," he explained.
The canvas is a seductive surface
for a painter like Samman where he can explore and discover.
Hence, the artist aims to develop a personal technique and an
individual style. Subsequently, he tries different techniques
such as the absence of perspective which was originally a return
to the ancient Byzantine icons of the Palmyra area.
Nowadays these icons are considered as a trait of Post – Modern
Art.
Samman
believes in the importance of creating visual states to control
the panel from one side, and to leave a space for the viewer to
enjoy contemplating his intense feeling and crowded colourful
forms from another side, aiming to achieve a continuous reborn
mobility in his works.
He paints when he feels upsurge
inside. This may happen while he is doing an art study for
example or reading a novel, which inspires him with different
scenes, characters, and places. Everyday details and daily news
also provide inspiration, as well as the anxiety of this modern
age and childhood complexes: all these events provoke him to
make works of art by recollecting some events and suppressing
others.
Painting is a
moment of victory for Samman, a moment of supreme values: "Like
Schtrawes music you just feel a state of dancing, flying… You
feel like a champion, stunned and astounded," said the artist.
The immortal
nature of paintings worries him a great deal. He is often
anxious about finishing a painting and sometimes he may paint
his canvas three times or even more until he is totally
satisfied. He is happy with many of his earlier works but he
wishes he could recall some others.
Besides
painting Samman likes reading a good book, listening to music,
and, regardless of the difficulty of making a living from his
painting alone, he would be so happy to sell a work which for
him means that he would be able to make another five paintings.
Nabil Al – Samman was born in
Damascus, He has had frequent exhibitions in Syria since 1985.
He has also exhibited in Lebanon and Kuwait.Samman also
contributes articles to newspapers and has also done special art
studies for children and organized workshops for children.
Arts