Farid Belkahia 1934-2014
L’arbre A Palabres, 2010
L’Arbre À Palabres 2010 (Part of a case of 7 digital prints on Bamboo Hahnemühle 290g paper, 1 original pastel and watercolor painting, and a poetry book by Adonis).
26h x 30w cm
Printed by Studio Bordas, Paris
Edition of 40
Edition of 40
Farid Belkahia created this series of seven digital prints, titled L’Arbre À Palabres (The Palaver Tree), based on seven original works of pigmented pastel on paper. The prints were inspired...
Farid Belkahia created this series of seven digital prints, titled L’Arbre À Palabres (The Palaver Tree), based on seven original works of pigmented pastel on paper. The prints were inspired by an eponymous poem by Syrian poet Adonis (L’arbre est un poème écrit par la nature). In his prints, Belkahia approaches the relationship between the symbolism of trees and humanity from an experimental and playful perspective.
Each rectangular print in this collection originates from an artwork combining pastel and watercolor. It was later giclée printed on 290g bamboo Hahnemühle paper. Framed by a grey border, each print features a simplified abstract tree rendered in various shapes – rounded square, triangle, curved line, or circle. Thin viscose pigments and paints, often applied dry, are worked over with a lintless cloth to scrub away layers, revealing underlying paint or raw canvas. This technique creates a textured and worn effect akin to rust, thus enhancing the tactile quality of the work. Ink pens in black, red, or blue outline the trees and depict arrows, adding lines that swirl and spiral in organic, curved forms.