Jordan Sculptor - in pictures

  • The sculpture in Ajloun, north Jordan, by artist Ghassan Mafadleh, before it was damaged. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh
    The sculpture in Ajloun, north Jordan, by artist Ghassan Mafadleh, before it was damaged. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh
  • Sculpture in Tafileh in southern Jordan. It was later painted gold. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh
    Sculpture in Tafileh in southern Jordan. It was later painted gold. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh
  • A Mafadleh painting. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh
    A Mafadleh painting. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh
  • A calligraphic sculpture in Mafadleh's home, more polished than his trademark work. He has set out to restore public art in Jordan. Amy McConaghy / The National
    A calligraphic sculpture in Mafadleh's home, more polished than his trademark work. He has set out to restore public art in Jordan. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • Inside Mafadleh's flat in Jabal Al Weibdeh. He says the lack of public art is damaging to the country’s development. Amy McConaghy / The National
    Inside Mafadleh's flat in Jabal Al Weibdeh. He says the lack of public art is damaging to the country’s development. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • A work in his flat made from an old mattress springboard. Now in his late 50s, Mafadleh developed interest in art while studying mathematics and computer science. Amy McConaghy / The National
    A work in his flat made from an old mattress springboard. Now in his late 50s, Mafadleh developed interest in art while studying mathematics and computer science. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • A drawing by Mafadleh in his home. Amy McConaghy / The National
    A drawing by Mafadleh in his home. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • Artwork from metal and wood. Mafadleh says neglect of art by the government as well as the broader society does a disservice to national heritage. Amy McConaghy / The National
    Artwork from metal and wood. Mafadleh says neglect of art by the government as well as the broader society does a disservice to national heritage. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • Ghassan Mafadleh says the mixed reaction to his works has also shown that some parts of Jordan are more open to art than others. Amy McConaghy / The National
    Ghassan Mafadleh says the mixed reaction to his works has also shown that some parts of Jordan are more open to art than others. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • Ghassan Mafadleh's home. Amy McConaghy / The National
    Ghassan Mafadleh's home. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • His work table is made from a large wooden reel used for power cables. Amy McConaghy/ The National
    His work table is made from a large wooden reel used for power cables. Amy McConaghy/ The National
  • The garden of Mafadleh’s ground-floor flat is full of his works, and street cats. Amy McConaghy / The National
    The garden of Mafadleh’s ground-floor flat is full of his works, and street cats. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • A painting by Mafadleh in his home. Amy McConaghy / The National
    A painting by Mafadleh in his home. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • Undaunted by his previous lack of success, he is now proposing to set up new sculptures in Irbid, Jordan’s third-largest city. Amy McConaghy / The National
    Undaunted by his previous lack of success, he is now proposing to set up new sculptures in Irbid, Jordan’s third-largest city. Amy McConaghy / The National
  • The Jerash sculpture being removed in 2014. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh
    The Jerash sculpture being removed in 2014. Photo: Ghassan Mafadleh