David Najib Kasir
A Pattern of Families Divided by >/<
In A Pattern of Families Divided by the Greater > Than and A Pattern of Families Divided by the Less < Than (Diptyque) David Najib Kasir paints a local Milwaukee refugee family in the style of a traditional family portrait, but depicts the family encased in an environment of Arabic mosaic designs.
“By using traditional Arab floral designs, I am trying to make people aware of the beauty that Arabs have contributed to the world. And not just beautiful designs, but other important innovations. Math comes from the Middle East and people forget that.”
Najib Kasir incorporates aspect from Moroccan and Zellige tile designs from Aleppo and Syria into the images to create a colorful and striking interpretation of the Middle Eastern immigrant family living in Milwaukee.
“Immigrants and refugees are our friends and neighbors. They are now and will always be a part of Americas story and Milwaukee’s story. These people are Milwaukeeans. I hope that viewers look at these figures and leave with a better understanding of the journey these families take from one environment to another. The idea of keeping a family whole, through time and distance is hard, and there is a price to pay. Hopefully, Baird Center visitors will leave with a bit more respect and understanding of these families’ experiences.”
About David Najib Kasir
David Najib Kasir, a Milwaukee-based painter whose work is comprised of personal narratives and cultural history or events. In recent years, Kasir’s work draws on stories from his parents’ journey to the U.S. and the current crisis from where they migrated (his mother migrated from Syria, and his father, Iraq). As an artist born here, Kasir reveals his cultural identity in paint and designs to inform viewers on the recent wars in Syria, in hopes of helping them develop an understanding of the millions of voiceless Arabs now living in chaos and disarray.
“My works often tell the narrative around refugees and specifically Arab refugees. Right now, that story is being used politically to tell a negative story. I want to use my works to change that narrative and change whatever people’s perception are of Arabs. Representation in art is such an important part of telling people different stories.”
By using beautiful traditional Arab designs called Zellige to dress the figures in his work, Kasir shows the beauty of a culture and the tragedy as families try to hold on to it and each other as everything around them falls apart.
Kasir has a BFA in painting from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and is represented by Var Gallery. He is the proud father of two young adult daughters, one who is a daughter herself.
Q&A with David Najib Kasir
