Read About Rashid Al Khalifa’s Museum Exhibition in Weissenstadt

Installation view of Rashid Al Khalifa's Circular Simplicity at Das Kleine Museum Weissenstadt.
Installation view of Rashid Al Khalifa’s Circular Simplicity at Das Kleine Museum Weissenstadt. Courtesy Rashid Al Khalifa.

DesignBoom covers Rashid Al Khalifa’s solo exhibition, Circular Simplicity, at Das Kleine Museum in Weissenstadt, Germany. Read the article below:

Al Khalifa’s solo exhibition at the Little Museum Weissenstadt

Renowned Bahraini artist Rashid Al Khalifa is set to present his latest solo exhibition, ‘Circular Simplicity,’ at The Little Museum Weissenstadt on July 20, 2024. The showcase features seven of Al Khalifa’s artworks, each epitomizing his minimalist approach and unique exploration of the circle as a central theme representing wholeness and unity. The designer’s fascination with the circle as a symbol of perfection and continuity inspired the exhibition, resonating with his quest to depict flawless precision and simplicity in his work.

Altered States II, 2024, enamel on aluminium, 60 x 60 cm | all images courtesy of Rashid Al Khalifa
Rashid Al Khalifa, Altered States II, 2024. Enamel on aluminum, 60 x 60 cm. Courtesy Rashid Al Khalifa.

circular simplicity captures rhythmic nature of symmetry

Rashid Al Khalifa was born in Riffa, Bahrain, in 1952 and has always had a deep interest in art and archaeology. He began his artistic practice at a young age, with his work reflecting the contrasts he observed in his surroundings, as well as the colors and light of his home country. Since 2010, the artist has employed aluminum in his work, a material that requires a great deal of energy to produce. The simplicity and symmetry present in Al Khalifa’s work balance the contrasts and contradictions of his daily life, creating a sense of calm and serenity in his recent works.

His artworks often draw on the aesthetic principles of Islamic art, particularly the concept of repetition, which is prevalent in his compositions. The deliberate repetition of intricate forms creates the illusion of infinity, evoking a sense of harmony rooted in the timelessness of his craft. By integrating a distinct color palette reminiscent of Bahrain’s landscape, Al Khalifa artfully captures the rhythmic nature of repetition, evoking order, symmetry, and the essence of existence in his masterpieces.

Installation view of Circular Simplicity at Das Kleine Museum. Courtesy Rashid Al Khalifa.

Rashid Al Khalifa’s fascination with the circle

‘Circular Simplicity’ stems from the creator’s fascination with the circle as a symbol of perfection and continuity, embodying the cyclical nature of existence. His creative journey towards minimalism began in 2015, spurred by his quest to depict precision and simplicity in his works. The exhibition promises to be an awe-inspiring display of the essence of life through the simplicity of circles. 

‘Circles are marvelous in their correlation between certain mathematical ties and our lives. They start from a point of purity or inexperience and then radiate in many directions, ultimately returning to the same place. It’s also nature’s way of arranging things beautifully,’ says Rashid Al Khalifa.