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The Dubai Collection engages with themes connected with the historical development of the Emirate and the UAE and reflects the values of openness, diversity and interconnectedness as embodied in the spirit of its home. Whilst focusing on the UAE and the region, the Dubai Collection is an international collection with no geographical restrictions, and artworks are selected by a qualified curatorial committee.

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© Dubai Collection 2025

 

Creative Direction: Johannes Mutter

Graphic Design: Daniel Kozma

Shafic Abboud – Liban, 1960

Courtesy: Charles Al Sidaoui, Private Collection, Dubai

Explore Artwork

Shafic Abboud

Lebanon (1926–2004)

Stories

The Depth of the Surface: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World

We enter the composition by boat, on a calm, flowing river that meanders diagonally off into the left-hand corner of the canvas. On either side of the river, tall trees — their historical presence suggested by the wide girth of their trunks — hug the waterway; their delicate dance with the sunlight bathing the river in vibrant patches of green, blue, orange, and reds. Nestled behind the trees, a row of brownish buildings with dark cavernous windows guides the viewer’s eye along the river and into the vanishing point in the distance. Together, these elements — the winding waterway, trees that stretch up to meet the frame of the canvas, and architectural structures weathered by time — create a composition of immense depth that moves the viewer’s eye through the canvas: a visual journey that mirrors the suggested physical water journey that is the subject of this landscape.

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