RAWAN AL ADWAN
A Legacy of Harmony
Acrylic, pastel and sand on canvas
60 x 90 cm
As in ancient times, women more often than not are the guardians of harmony in our communities and in the world. My artworks express the magnificence of the cultural heritage of the Levant with a contemporary twist. Most of the time I merge reality with imagination and memory. I work hard to develop paintings that express the beauty of our ancient societies which are in continuation of the present.
In the Middle East, women have always been the primary contributors in our communities toward healing our world, from early times to the present. Their inherent connection to the sanctity of life, and their ability to nurture and protect it, have inspired a legacy of harmony.
My artwork is inspired by the ancient inscriptions and drawings discovered on old basalt volcanic stones in the Middle East. These drawings were created by the Safawi people that inhabited the desert in 500 B.C in Jordan. My artwork reflects the spirit of this primitive art while allowing and respecting its freedom to also become contemporary art in the 21st century. My artistic objective is to breathe life into forgotten ancient societies and their values, through redrawing and adding vibrant colors to them.
Earth inspired colors, somber brown, ochre, red and blue shades dominate my artwork reflecting my vision as an artist and human being. My paintings are characterized with simple outlines, presence of symbolic signs and emotive distortions of figures. The use of the golden hue reflects my hope for a better future full of peace and love.
Rawan Al Adwan is an artist currently residing in London, UK where she is currently active in the world of art, culture and media.
Born and raised in Jordan, Al Adwan's inspiration comes from her rich and mystical Arabic heritage. As a child, Al Adwan was greatly inspired by her Bedouin roots which play a great role in her expression as an artist. Surroundings of exotic and historical landscapes and ancient monuments aroused her senses as a child to pursue her artistic nature which could not be quenched. Al Adwan's love for art was very evident as she was growing up, which led her to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at Yarmouk University in 1995. Al Adwan's career continued to blossom following her studies, with her artwork predominantly expressed in ceramic art, paintings and mixed media.
Al Adwan's has had four solo exhibitions in Amman, Jordan and has participated in various exhibitions within Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, Austria, Italy, California and London. She is extremely proud of her cultural heritage and has contributed in various ways to Jordan, the country which inspired her and continues to fuel her fire as an artist. She has worked in the Queen Alia Fund for Social Development, with Office of the Prime Minister of Jordan, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts and the Political Museum.
She is a member of House of Lebanon Foundation in California, The Jordanian Artist Union and the Women World Peace Federation, where she was honored as an Ambassador of Peace in 2015 .
She decided to move to London in 2012 and has since participated in group exhibitions with Fitzrovia Gallery/Frieze Art Fair, Parallax Art Fair and Konooz Auction at the Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane. She has written a monthly article for the Wall Street International magazine about art and culture since 2014.