Huwa 2008

Abdul Qader Al Raes made *Huwa* using what looks like watercolor and ink, and right away, I’m struck by the mix of control and chance in the mark-making here, which to me, is what art’s all about. The way he's layered those washes, letting them bleed and blend—it's like he's chasing after something, but not in a hurried way. More like a dance, a slow burn. Look at that turquoise calligraphy floating over everything. It’s crisp and clear, but then underneath, there’s all this murk and mystery. The top layer is a controlled, almost graphic gesture, sitting on top of the more fluid and unpredictable ground. The colors, from that hot orange to the cooler yellows and purples, they create this whole mood, a feeling of warmth and depth. Reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler, who I think mastered the stain painting technique and also approached color with a similar freedom. Ultimately, it’s a dance between intention and accident, and how those two things can come together to make something really beautiful and alive.