Seated Man with a Cactus

Artist: Samir Rafi
Title: Seated Man with a Cactus
Year: 1991
Medium: Mixed media on panel
Dimensions: 114 × 95 cm
Courtesy: From the private collection of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Samir Rafi

Samir Rafi was one of Egypt’s most prominent surrealist artists. His oeuvre of paintings, collage, drawing and tapestry reflects a world he reimagines, one that is shrouded in melancholy and loneliness. Rafi’s surrealist world is defined by his command of color and the symbols he incorporates, harking back to his childhood in Egypt. His depictions of the female form and wolf dog are recurring figures in his body of work.

● Patron

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was born in 1949 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He proceeded to become the ruler of Dubai, and the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE in 2006. However, His Highness has been initiating projects aimed at the prosperity of Dubai and its people since his appointment as the Crown Prince of Dubai in 1995.