For decades, Ala Bashir has been attempting to change the perception of how humans view life through his surrealist paintings that reflect a reality no ordinary human can imagine.
The Iraqi artist, who was a former professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Baghdad, bases works around his visions of how individuals must figure out the purpose of their existence.
The subjects of his paintings stay in the viewer's mind not only for their unique style but for the shocking reality they portray. The majority of them depict a chair and a human body taking different positions and shapes.
I believe the function of art is not to entertain people, it's there to encourage them to see what's hidden in life
"Art is like science, it's a tool to investigate our existence. It should invite people to see beyond what they see, the artist should encourage people to use what's inside rather than their sight," Bashir tells The National.
His paintings reflect emotional toll of devastating conflicts that Iraq and the world have endured, pushing him to question life.
"I believe the function of art is not to entertain people, it's there to encourage them to see what's hidden in life," he said. "There's tragedy everywhere – so that's why I think art should push people to dig deep into what's good in our existence and how we can become better."
As a surgeon, Bashir is known for pioneering techniques for reattaching hands but, as an artist, he wants to motivate individuals to reconnect with their emotions.
'Predicament of Man'
On Wednesday, London auction house Bonhams will be selling Bashir's Predicament of Man in its Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art sale.
The painting depicts an empty, headless body, with several ravens on top and inside of it.
"I succeed in expressing the suffering of human beings in this painting," he says. "It's just skin, there's nothing inside his body. He's alive and can move, but he's empty because of the external and internal problems that he feels.
"Once a human is born, he's challenged until the end ... by how to live, figuring out their purpose in life but also by violence that surrounds them."
For Bashir, this is the predicament of man.
Born in Khanaqin in 1939, the artist witnessed radical political changes in Iraq from the 1950s up until today, which has shaped his thoughts and artistic techniques.
"Although Predicament of Man was made in 1980, I've had thoughts on this subject before then. I cannot say that I was lucky or unlucky to witness what happened in 1958, 1963, coups and revolutions, that were followed by violence and bloodshed," he says.
Bashir's artistic talent was discovered at an early age by his primary school teacher and he was later encouraged by his father to paint and sketch. He studied medicine in Baghdad in the late 1950s, working to become a doctor by day and by night, painting at the Baghdad College of Fine Arts.
By the end of the decade, Bashir was introduced to a group of artists who pioneered Iraq’s modern art movement and became a member of the Impressionist group. Among these notable names were Hafidh Aldroubi, founder of the Impressionist Group movement, and Jewad Selim, founder of the Baghdad Modern Art Group in 1952.
In 1971, he later obtained a doctorate in plastic surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and took part in many exhibitions at home and abroad.
Bashir was also part of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s medical team, serving as one of almost a dozen doctors for Saddam for nearly 20 years (between 1984-2003).
He is the holder of many prizes such as the second prize of the Baghdad International Poster Exhibition (1982) and the gold prize of the Baghdad International Art Festival (1988).
Despite all his accolades, Bashir is still trying to find the meaning of life.
"My paintings, whether people agree or not, reflect the questions of life in a different way. Sometimes people don’t get the message because they don't like to be reminded of facts of life," he says.
He is set to hold an exhibition in London next September.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
