ARTIST TALK : DAVID NAJIB KASIR

    David Najib Kasir is a Syrian-American artist who has been creating compelling and challenging art for many years. Kasir's work often explores themes of displacement, identity and memory. He draws on his own experiences as a Syrian immigrant, as well as his observations of the world around him, to create deeply personal and universal art. His work is multidisciplinary, covering painting, drawing, installation and digital media.

    I personally think, that out of all the artists talk I attended, David Kasir is the artist I can relate the most too. As an immigrant myself my experience of not of the US but also with my home countries is very different from that of non-immigrant citizens. In addition, having lived in an Arabic speaking country my whole life, I found some similarities between his work moroccan art.

    One of my favorite of Kasir's works is the "Neighborhood under siege destruction project" in which he document the destruction of Syria's buildings, as well as the impact of the Syrian civil war on the country's people and communities. Through this project, Kasir seeks to raise awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria. In this series, He also uses traditional moroccan designs made with Zellige which is a traditional Moroccan tile made from a very unique natural clay, sourced from the region of Fez (Morocco) to dress  the destructed landscape environments. 

The Square Root of Hands Held, Minus the Goodbyes 
Oil & Acrylic on Panel 58x47"2022

Concrete (squared) - The Fires That Got Us Here

               Oil & Acrylic on Panel41x43"2020

    Overall, David Najib Kasir's art is a powerful expression of his personal experiences and his desire to create a better world. Through his work, he encourages viewers to confront difficult questions and reflect on their own role in shaping the world around them.