Alexander Gray Associates
Skip to main content
Menu
  • Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hassan Sharif, Raising Hands, 2009
    Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hassan Sharif, Raising Hands, 2009 Hassan Sharif: Political Paintings (2008-2009), Alexander Gray Associates, New York (2022)

    Hassan Sharif

    Raising Hands, 2009
    Pastel on paper
    14 3/4 x 10 1/2 in (37.5 x 26.7 cm)
    18 x 14 x 1 1/2 in framed (45.7 x 35.6 x 3.8 cm framed)
    HS450

    Further images

    • (View a larger image of thumbnail 1 ) Hassan Sharif, Raising Hands, 2009
    • (View a larger image of thumbnail 2 ) Hassan Sharif, Raising Hands, 2009
    Though widely known for his trailblazing conceptual sculptural compositions, Hassan Sharif first received recognition for his figurative images. In some of his late works on paper, Sharif repeats the gesture...
    Read more

    Though widely known for his trailblazing conceptual sculptural compositions, Hassan Sharif first received recognition for his figurative images. In some of his late works on paper, Sharif repeats the gesture of a raised hand, abstracting the movement until its meanings collapse and run together into an endless surrender. In Raising Hands (2009), he depicts two figures with raised hands, their entire forms abstracted almost beyond recognition. Recalling the charcoal sketches of German Expressionists, Sharif’s pained, waving figures imbue the composition with an uncanny psychological charge. Their gesture—a plea for help—serves as an indictment against authoritarianism, recalling the artist’s assertion, “every act from man is a political act. An artist is a realist by nature. So the function of my work of art is to say no to the authoritative orders, so I still feel and I consider myself as a realist."

    Close full details

    Exhibitions

    2022: Hassan Sharif: Political Paintings (2008–2009), Alexander Gray Associates, New York, NY

    Enquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EHassan%20Sharif%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3ERaising%20Hands%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2009%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EPastel%20on%20paper%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E14%203/4%20x%2010%201/2%20in%20%2837.5%20x%2026.7%20cm%29%3Cbr/%3E%0A18%20x%2014%20x%201%201/2%20in%20framed%20%2845.7%20x%2035.6%20x%203.8%20cm%20framed%29%3C/div%3E
    Share
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Email
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Manage cookies
© Alexander Gray Associates
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences