al Mahdi

Enemies clash in a bloody battle. Some are stabbed, others keep their foes at a good distance, ready to shoot. All the faces are contorted by fury or fear. In the left corner, a white, blond intruder in a spotless polo shirt witnesses the scene, where he does not belong.

Al Mahdi, literally “the one leading the way”, an oil on Egyptian linen, attests to Robert Colescott's interest in the historical representation of war. His experience in Egypt was decisive. “Egypt submerged me in my non-European identity,” he said.

Al Madhi by Robert Colescott is being presented for the first time by the Pinault Collection during the “Untitled, 2020” show at the Punta della Dogana in Venice (2020).