Biographies > Shafik Al-Hamdani

Deep vibrant colours, depth of space, immediacy of paint and clarity of line, all define the work, Reflection in the TAG collection.  It embodies aspects of Shafik Al-Hamdani’s art – a love for his adopted northern landscape, and interest in simplification.  His other work in the TAG collection, Untitled (Colour Study) also demonstrates a love of abstraction and a deep interest in experimenting with colour to create new effects that push the boundaries of his work. He studied painting in acrylics and oil at Northern College between 1989 and 92 and these continue to be his first choices of media.  As well as a painter, Shafik is also a photographer and frequently gives talks on art and art history.  His work has earned him numerous regional art awards including winning the Northern Telephone Book Cover Contest in 1993 and 1997 and his Northern Ontario Art Association letters.1

Being an artist in northern Ontario. The slow pace of living here, in proximity to nature, the solitude … allows me to concentrate on developing those few, precious ideas that occasionally arise in the artist’s mind and transform them into paintings.  This far out weighs the downside of distance from artistic centres, a larger public, and marketing opportunities.  

1.For further details see D. Green, A Portrait. 50 years in the making, A History of the Northern Ontario Art Association, 2009