Lending an artistic flavour to celebrations marking the Sultanate’s 49th National Day, acclaimed mixed-media artist Mahnoush Abbasgholy will be presenting a selection of striking portraits of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos at the splendid Opera Galleria in Muscat. Titled ‘Pride of the Nation’, the solo exhibition will be inaugurated by SH/ Ahmed Suwaidan Al Balushi, Chairman of Al Balushi Group, on 17th November at 7:30pm and continue until 21st November.
The display will comprise of 20 stunning portraits of His Majesty the Sultan, most of which incorporate her signature use of pure silver and gold leaf that imparts a certain depth to the paintings while making the colours come aglow against the contrast of the metalwork. Mahnoush describes herself as a mixed media artist with a modern, abstract style. Her preferred medium is acrylic on canvas.
So what has inspired her to work on paintings of His Majesty the Sultan? “Having lived in Oman for the past three years, I was struck by the genuine love and respect the people of Oman have for their ruler. This motivated me to present an initial collection of my works a year ago on the occasion of the 48th National Day. This time around, the paintings incorporate more details. Popular red and green colours have been integrated that contrast well with gold and silver,” she states.
Skilled in a wide range of artistic techniques, Mahnoush selects a photograph of His Majesty and recreates a life-like image of him. She then transforms the background with her own interpretation of colours and mixed media that makes the painting stand out. The collection marks the culmination of an extremely demanding six-months-long ‘labour of love’ that will go on display at the Opera Galleria.
The Iranian-born artist has been associated with prestigious projects in Dubai such as the Ibn Buttuta Mall and has created bespoke pieces for high-end luxury hotels and restaurants. Her works are also part of a private collection. Mahnoush is currently working with Al Balushi LLC’s Art Division, which was established by renowned Australian artist David Willis who has lived in Oman for 30-plus years.
