2024
Jabbar Al Ghadban
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Painter, Printmaker
The spring - Metal etching on paper 3/15 - 56 x 38 cm - 1997
Al Ghadban’s early artistic journey was deeply tied to the search for identity and expression through printmaking. He studied in Baghdad, where exposure to Arab modernism and technical training in graphic arts gave him the tools to articulate a distinct voice—one that fused local heritage with broader visual experimentation.
"From the Shores of Bahrain: The Beginnings of Jabbar Al Ghadban"
Jabbar Al Ghadban emerged as a vital figure in Bahrain’s visual arts scene during a formative time in the region’s artistic development. Rooted in the cultural and social rhythms of Muharraq and the wider Gulf, Al Ghadban’s early artistic journey was deeply tied to the search for identity and expression through printmaking. He studied in Baghdad, where exposure to Arab modernism and technical training in graphic arts gave him the tools to articulate a distinct voice—one that fused local heritage with broader visual experimentation.
"Print as Witness: Documenting Memory and Place" Al Ghadban’s early printmaking works serve as a visual archive of Bahrain’s memory. Through etching, woodcut, and monoprint techniques, he depicted scenes of traditional life, pearl divers, fishermen, old alleyways, and abstracted Bahraini architecture. His prints were never mere illustrations; they were poetic impressions, offering emotional rather than literal documentation. The medium of print allowed him to embed repetition, rhythm, and subtle narrative into his works, echoing the repetitive labor of the sea and the rituals of daily life.
Metal etching on paper A.P. - 75 x 56 cm - 2002
Metal etching on paper 5/15 - 56 x 38 cm - 1997
Metal etching on paper A.P. - 56 x 38 cm - 1996
A woman and a jelly fish - Metal etching on paper A.P. - 75 x 56 cm - 1991
"Texture and Repetition: The Poetry of Process"
Printmaking, in Al Ghadban’s hands, became a poetic process. He embraced the physicality of the medium—the carved marks, the press of ink on paper, the textured imperfections—as part of the work’s emotional voice. Many of his early prints carry a meditative repetition, not only in subject matter but also in visual rhythm. Series of similar forms—arches, waves, faces—create a sense of musicality. This emphasis on material and repetition reveals a contemplative side to his practice, one rooted in both craft and spirit.
"A Legacy in Ink: Preserving the Spirit of a Nation" Jabbar Al Ghadban’s early printmaking work holds a special place in Bahrain’s modern art history. His ability to merge technical mastery with cultural narrative created a unique visual legacy—one that still resonates today. These works serve as time capsules of a transforming nation, capturing the spirit of pre-oil Bahrain while engaging with global artistic dialogue. Through his prints, Al Ghadban not only chronicled the past but shaped a national aesthetic identity grounded in memory, symbolism, and craft.
