Dead See 1960

Abdul Mati Klarwein’s *Dead See* feels as though it’s been painted with oil, in thin glazes that build up into an almost hallucinatory vision of landscape. The orange, red, and yellow hues evoke a sense of heat, and the texture of the mountains and earth appears almost granular, as if made of sand itself. I imagine Klarwein, lost in concentration, layering each stroke with care, letting the image emerge slowly, intuitively. Those floating faces with eyes wide open peering out are like surreal guardians of the landscape. It’s as if Klarwein wants us to feel the weight and meaning of the earth itself, while also conjuring the history of the landscape and our place within it. Klarwein’s use of vibrant color and dreamlike imagery reminds me a little bit of other artists like Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington who use vivid colours. Painting is an ongoing conversation with them too; inspiring each other’s creativity across time. Embracing ambiguity lets us see how multiple interpretations enrich the work's meaning.