EXCLUSIVE Rashid Al Khalifa: Artist and member of the Bahraini royal family brings his latest exhibition Quintessence to Berlin gallery
Opening on June 27 at 7pm, it's the first time the striking installations of the artist and member of the Bahraini royal family will be on view in Berlin.
The gallery's website reports: 'Quintessence offers a fresh perspective on the art and culture of Bahrain - beyond common cliché.'
Al Khalifa 'combines traditional patterns with contemporary forms, reflecting the cultural, architectural, and environmental transformations of his homeland through kinetic aluminum installations.
'Light, space, and symbolic motifs—such as the waxing moon—feature prominently in works like Waves V, Coral, and Grey Circle. Inspired by the ornamental latticework of Gulf architecture, Al Khalifa creates poetic, multilayered works that build bridges between past and future.'
He spoke of his art background to MailOnline and said: 'I became interested in art at around the age of 14-15 years old. Bahrain was a British protectorate in the late sixties and it was frequented by many British visitors.
'One of which was an artist called Mr.Hunting. I had the chance to attend one of his workshops and I was fascinated by his style of painting which consisted of cloudy and misty scenes.
'I was also exposed to the famous 17th century British artist J.M.W. Turner. His atmospheric paintings touched me from within. It reflected the cloudy and misty weather of the Alps but in my case it reminded me of the sandy days in Bahrain.
'At the last year of my high school, I held my first solo art exhibition which was a big success, well attended and I sold a few paintings which made me proud of myself.'
Al Khalifa said he dreamed of travelling after completing his studies and added: 'After school I really was desperate to leave the country and wanted to study abroad.
'The only opportunity I got was to go to the police academy at Hendon in London. I accepted and went to the UK.
'I had to study English first and while I was studying at an English school in Hastings. I took some evening classes at the art institute. The headmistress then encouraged me to enrol full time. I didn't hesitate for a minute. I finished my education in 1975 in art and design.'
He continued: 'In 1983, along with some young artists we formed an art society and the aim was to promote and nurture artists on the island.
'During that time we had a visit by then the president of the Royal Academy in London Sir Hugh Casson - this was a visit to remember.
'I continued painting mainly in landscape and fugitive works during the Eighties. In the Nineties my work started to become more abstract and from the turn of the century I moved to more minimalist work.
'I started to use aluminium as support which was suitable to my style.
'While painting and nurturing young artists , I started collecting art as well. By 2015, I had enough artworks to have them displayed. In 2020, I turned my family old house into an art foundation and named it the RAK art foundation.
'In 2017, I had a solo show at Saatchi art gallery which lured me towards art installations.
'Then in 2023, I participated in Art d'Eygpte by the great pyramids and exhibiting by the pyramids of Giza was just magical.
'For the last two years I have been participating in the Treasure House art fair in Chelsea.'
Early next year will see the opening of Al Khalifa's museum for Middle Eastern and North African art.
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