NABIL KANSO

“And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering and to conquer. […] and another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. [...] And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand. [...] And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth. - Revelation 6

 

"And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, 'Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on Earth."- Revelation 8:13

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"The Stream of imageries emanating from the Revelation to John, penetrates the vista of the mind, in a conflagration of power, mystery and awe, evoking a visual sense of excitement intermingled with dismay, pleasure, fear, consolation and inspiration. 

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While in exiled seclusion on the Isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea, John addressed a series of admonishing and consoling letters to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor, and depicted his visions with astounding waves of unforgettable images, apocalyptic symbols, cosmic numbers and allegorical presentations. 

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Appearing during the last quarter of the 1st Century, A.D., the Book reflects the period of the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire, alluded to as the Great Harlot of Babylon. The dualistic universe of good and evil recalls Zoroastrian and Judeo apocalyptic works, particularly the Book of Daniel. 

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The overwhelming imageries of the Apocalypse, flashed like lightning across time and space, becoming visible and audible through association with the continual coming and going of upheavals, catastrophes and wars sweeping the planet. 

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As a subject for painting, the Apocalypse offers a kind of visual stimulus whose complex rhythm surges through unspecified time and place, transforming sensations into a variety of forms, shapes and meanings. 

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The evolvement of the images within the series of works represented follows a broad path in which the field of imageries expresses itself freely in the personal language of painting." - Nabil Kanso, 1996, quoted from "Apocalypse"