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Art investment in the MENA region is evolving rapidly, blending cultural insight with strong market growth.

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ADAI champions artists from across the Middle East and North Africa

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ADAI works with artists across the Middle East and North Africa to ensure their work is seen, understood, and contextualized. Representation on ADAI means supporting artists through curated visibility, research, and digital presentation, connecting their work to audiences, exhibitions, and broader cultural conversations.

Artists featured on ADAI are not exclusively signed or commercially represented— instead, ADAI provides a platform to showcase your practice, highlight your perspective, and situate your work within the evolving landscape of MENA art.

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Founders of Arab Modernism (1920–1940)

Often referred to as the era of Al-Ruwad (The Pioneers), this period marks the birth of modern Arab art. Many of these artists were sent on government-sponsored scholarships to study in European capitals like Paris and Rome. Upon returning home, they blended Western academic techniques (such as Impressionism and Realism) with local subjects, landscapes, and the emerging concept of national identity.

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Following World War II, as Arab nations gained independence from colonial powers, artists sought to break away from European academicism to forge distinctly localized modernisms. This era saw the formation of major artist collectives, such as the Baghdad Group for Modern Art and the Contemporary Art Group in Cairo. Pan-Arabism, decolonization, and the revival of ancient heritage (like Pharaonic or Mesopotamian motifs) were massive drivers of this era.

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This period was heavily defined by regional political turmoil, most notably the 1967 Six-Day War (the Naksa or 'setback'), the Palestinian exodus, and the Lebanese Civil War. Art became a crucial tool for resistance, political commentary, and documenting human suffering. Existential angst and national trauma led to an emotionally charged, often somber, figurative expressionism.

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Hurufiyya & Abstraction with Cultural Identity (1960–1990)

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Contemporary & Transnational Voices (1990–2020)

Driven by globalization, the diaspora experience, and new technologies, Arab art in this era expanded well beyond traditional painting and sculpture. It became heavily characterized by video, photography, installation, and performance art. Operating on a global stage, these artists tackle complex themes of post-colonialism, migration, memory, borders, and gender identity.

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Rima Moukahal

Verifiedicon Verified

Lebanon / Lebanon

The Big Day

2025 • Textile / Fabric / Fiber Art

Ships from Dubai. Final quote & tracking provided after purchase. Duties/taxes may apply.

Under review

Rima Moukahal

locationLebanon

download-artwork Export Artwork PDF

About the artwork

“The Big Day” reflects the timeless dream of love and new beginnings. Soft tones of pink and white, adorned with lace and geofabric, evoke femininity and innocence. The lace, a symbol of women’s beauty, reveals the delicate strength within its intertwined openness — breathable, embracing, and seeing through, like the nature of women. The fabric, with its absorptive quality, mirrors the depth of emotion and the capacity to hold love, memories, and transformation. The work celebrates a woman’s passage into her own story — her family, her future, herself.

Medium: Textile / Fabric / Fiber Art
Materials: Fabric + Mixed Media
Style: Abstract,Contemporary
Size: 184 x 114 x 3.00 Meters (m)
Frame: Artwork not framed
Availability: Available
Classification: Unique
Series: Part of a Series
Signature: Signed
Previous sale: None

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