The Art of Eating

Often, the mobile phone is the more commanding guest at any table, with every little beep drawing attention more so than an intimate, honest, and open dialogue. 

The art of eating is getting lost, with the slow appreciative savoring of the dishes and drinks overshadowed by rushed conversations, distractions — digital and internal — and some calorie counts by a few of the attendees. 

There simply isn’t enough time to enjoy a meal, its scent, its texture, and reflect on its ingredients and preparations. We either eat too fast, drink too fast, or talk or listen too fast. 
These artworks from Barjeel Art Foundation help us appreciate the sentiments of simply sitting at a cafe or restaurant, as well as the love and hard work behind the scenes in the kitchens. 
We meet several important artists, including the renowned Faisal Laibi Sahi whose coffee shop pieces often depict a variety of influential figures within Iraqi culture and its society, which sometimes contain political references. “His paintings and drawings express a keen sense of historical identity that surpasses patriotism,” as stated on the Barjeel Art Foundation website. 

Meanwhile, Ali Al-Jabri, from a prominent Aleppo family, is a meticulous documenter of everyday life, people, architecture, and cultural artifacts, creating a “kind of visual diary.” 
The artists featured are from UAE, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Jordan. We invite you to enjoy their artistic and cultural takes on the art of food, eating and simply sitting at a communal table.