Ali Ferzat
Untitled 1, 2011
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0039
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 2, 2009
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0040
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 3, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0041
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 4, 2004
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0042
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 5, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0043
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 6, 1998
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0044
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 7, 1989
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0045
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 8, 1987
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0046
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 9, 1989
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0047
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 10, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0048
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 11, 1986
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0049
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 12, 1979
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0050
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 13, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0051
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 14, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0052
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 15, 1990
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0053
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 16, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0054
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 17, 1988
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0055
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 18, 2013
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0056
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 19, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0057
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 38, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
107 x 78 cm (42 1/8 x 30 11/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0076
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 20, 1984
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0058
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 21, 2010
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0059
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 22, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0060
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 23, 2000
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0061
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 24, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0062
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 25, 1990
Ink on Paper
27 x 22 cm (10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0063
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 26, 2000
Ink on Paper
26 x 19 cm (10 3/16 x 7 7/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0064
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 27, 2011
Ink on Paper
25 x 22 cm (9 13/16 x 8 5/8 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0065
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 28, 2003
Ink on Paper
21 x 20 cm (8 1/4 x 7 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0066
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 29, 2011
Ink on Paper
34 x 25 cm (13 3/8 x 9 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0067
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 30, 2011
Ink on Paper
100 x 70 cm (39 5/16 x 27 1/2 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0068
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 31, 1990
Ink on Paper
72 x 52 cm (28 5/16 x 20 7/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0069
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 32, 2000
Ink on Paper
29 x 25 cm (11 3/8 x 9 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0070
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 33, 2010
Ink on Paper
30 x 22 cm (11 3/4 x 8 5/8 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0071
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 34, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
79 x 57 cm (31 1/16 x 22 7/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0072
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 35, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
99 x 71 cm (38 15/16 x 27 15/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0073
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 36, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
26 x 20 cm (10 3/16 x 7 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0074
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 37, 1989
Acrylic on canvas
100 x 71 cm (39 5/16 x 27 15/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0075
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 1, 2011
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0039
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 2, 2009
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0040
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 3, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0041
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 4, 2004
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0042
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 5, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0043
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 6, 1998
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0044
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 7, 1989
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0045
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 8, 1987
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0046
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 9, 1989
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0047
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 10, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0048
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 11, 1986
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0049
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 12, 1979
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0050
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 13, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0051
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 14, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0052
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 15, 1990
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0053
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 16, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0054
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 17, 1988
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0055
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 18, 2013
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0056
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 19, 2014
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0057
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 38, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
107 x 78 cm (42 1/8 x 30 11/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0076
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 20, 1984
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0058
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 21, 2010
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0059
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 22, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0060
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 23, 2000
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0061
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 24, 2001
Ink on Paper
29.7 x 21 cm (11 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0062
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 25, 1990
Ink on Paper
27 x 22 cm (10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0063
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 26, 2000
Ink on Paper
26 x 19 cm (10 3/16 x 7 7/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0064
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 27, 2011
Ink on Paper
25 x 22 cm (9 13/16 x 8 5/8 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0065
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 28, 2003
Ink on Paper
21 x 20 cm (8 1/4 x 7 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0066
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 29, 2011
Ink on Paper
34 x 25 cm (13 3/8 x 9 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0067
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 30, 2011
Ink on Paper
100 x 70 cm (39 5/16 x 27 1/2 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0068
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 31, 1990
Ink on Paper
72 x 52 cm (28 5/16 x 20 7/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0069
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 32, 2000
Ink on Paper
29 x 25 cm (11 3/8 x 9 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0070
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 33, 2010
Ink on Paper
30 x 22 cm (11 3/4 x 8 5/8 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0071
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 34, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
79 x 57 cm (31 1/16 x 22 7/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0072
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 35, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
99 x 71 cm (38 15/16 x 27 15/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0073
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 36, 1990
Acrylic on canvas
26 x 20 cm (10 3/16 x 7 13/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0074
Ali Ferzat
Untitled 37, 1989
Acrylic on canvas
100 x 71 cm (39 5/16 x 27 15/16 in.)
From Cartoon Series
ALF0075
Renowned and celebrated Syrian cartoonist, Ali Ferzat, will be exhibiting a retrospective of his work in an exhibition titled Echoes at Athr Gallery.
Among the 38 selected pieces to be exhibited is a 100 X 70 cm caricature of a towering authoritarian figure wearing an opulent military costume, spoon-feeding his subject from a large cast-iron pot that is overflowing with medals. This was exhibited in 1989 at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. This exhibition at Institut Du Monde was not only crucial in propelling Ali into the international arena, but was also a turning point in Ali’s life. He would witness the backlash of this exhibition from different Arab states: consequences would include the ban of his work in Arab state-run media.
The other selected works vary from caricatures he’s created in the 80s to his most recent caricatures: from small black and white caricatures to large acrylic on canvas pieces. The artwork will be placed on white walls with a single light bulb directly hung in front of each work. The gallery’s space will create a cavernous atmosphere allowing each caricature to be examined as a stand-alone artwork. This deliberate attempt to allow each work its own resonance is inline with how Ali’s work is most described – a visual voice. He lends voice to characters that are more general types than recognizable individuals. This allows his work to be independent from any particular location; ultimately universalizing the issues he addresses. The strength of his caricatures is that they transcend geographic boundaries and target the human: abuse of power, tyranny, injustice, hypocrisy, and inequality are among the immoral acts that, unfortunately, are widely practiced around the world. His intervention is an attempt to awaken the universal conscious with poignant irony and sarcasm.
In spite of the fact that none of the cartoons contained portraits of actually existing leaders, they very often caused trouble
“ Wherever I go in the Arab world, caricatures of Syrian best-known political cartoonist Ali Farazat appear in various newspapers. There is a reason behind this: his meticulous drawings, mostly without captions, make a lot of noise.” -- French cartoonist Plantu
Ali Ferzat was voted as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and has won various human rights awards, including the 2011 Sakharov Prize for “Voices for Democracy: Citizenship in the Making”. His meticulously drawn caricatures have been published in many media outlets and have won many awards such as The 2011 “Press Freedom Prize” from Reporters Without Borders and Le Monde . This is not surprising as his caricatures have stimulated and inspired the thoughts – and perhaps actions - of many people in his country and abroad.
During Ali’s visit to Jeddah, he met up with renowned Saudi artist Ahmed Mater. Ahmed’s first impression of the artist could be condensed in a comment that Ali made:“ Let's speak all languages without a language”. Ahmed was struck by Ali’s ability to not only see the truth in someone’s surroundings, but also its beauty.
“This exhibition will introduce the artistic journey of the artist and caricaturist Ali Farazat -- making him a global thinker as far as his ambitions will take him; and provide a sense of belonging as far as his attachment towards his homeland and principles: it is his belief in freedom” – Ahmed Mater
To accompany the exhibition, Athr gallery will deliver an education program aimed at engaging school and university students in contemporary art. The program will include a talk hosted by Athr Gallery as well as a dedicated workshop on the subject of cartoons and caricatures.