Stal Gallery opened its latest exhibition on 13 April in Muscat, presenting “Gilgamesh: Symbols and Connotations” by acclaimed Iraqi artist Dr. Sabeeh Kalash. Held under the patronage of Engineer Saeed Al-Saklawy, President of the Omani Society for Writers and Literati, the event brought together artists, writers, and cultural enthusiasts for an evocative evening where ancient myth met contemporary vision. The exhibition runs until 22 April.
Rooted in the cultural wealth of Mesopotamia, Gilgamesh: Symbols and Connotations presents the world’s oldest epic through a strikingly modern visual language. “This exhibition unfolds the timeless Epic of Gilgamesh through the expressive strokes of a contemporary brush,” Kalash explains. “Inspired by Mesopotamian heritage, the works portray Gilgamesh not merely as a legendary king, but as a universal symbol of humanity’s eternal search—for meaning, friendship, transcendence, and immortality.”
Each painting offers a poetic exploration of key moments from the epic: Enkidu’s creation, the battle in the Cedar Forest, the Great Flood, the serpent, and the quest for eternal life. These themes emerge through symbolic forms, abstract compositions, and layered visual metaphors that invite deep reflection. Kalash’s artistic vision is as personal as it is historical. “The inspiration behind Gilgamesh: Symbols and Connotations was born from a profound connection to the cultural legacy of Mesopotamia—the cradle of civilisation and my ancestral land,” he shares. “The epic offered a timeless mirror reflecting the essence of human existence: the struggle with mortality, the thirst for knowledge, the power of friendship, and the eternal quest for meaning.”
What sets this collection apart is how Kalash treats the myth as a living narrative that still resonates today. “Amidst the noise of modern life and the fragmentation of identity, Gilgamesh emerged as a symbol of continuity, introspection, and resilience,” he notes.
That introspection is tangible across the canvases, many of which resemble ancient ruins brought to life—etched with bull horns, faded inscriptions, and fractured forms. One piece features a kneeling, blue-hued figure caught mid-transformation, surrounded by symbolic orbs and grids. Another overlays winged beasts and warriors with stamp-like motifs and vibrant colour, echoing the epic’s chaos and complexity.
“The creative process was fuelled by personal experiences of exile, longing, and the search for belonging—parallels to Gilgamesh’s own journey of loss and discovery,” Kalash reflects. “Each canvas became a meeting point of memory and imagination—a conversation across centuries.”
Dr. Sabeeh Kalash, born in Baghdad in 1948, is one of the Arab world’s most respected contemporary artists. He holds a PhD in Contemporary Art History from Sorbonne University in Paris and has taught at leading institutions including the University of Baghdad, Yarmouk University, Al-Mustansiriya University, and Sultan Qaboos University, where he chaired the Art Education Department until 2014. His work—shown in over a dozen countries—is widely recognised for exploring themes of memory, mythology, and identity. In 2020, he received first prize in Oman’s international art competition on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presented at Stal Gallery, known for fostering cross-cultural dialogue through contemporary art, this exhibition offers more than an artistic reinterpretation—it is a thoughtful excavation of meaning and myth. Gilgamesh: Symbols and Connotations reflects the enduring power of storytelling and the timeless relevance of the human journey.
The exhibition is open to the public until 22 April at Stal Gallery, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat. Visitors are invited to step into a world where memory and myth converge—where the figure of Gilgamesh walks again, not through ancient clay tablets, but across canvases alive with colour, symbolism, and emotional depth.
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