The Kiss (2010), a remarkable canvas by Serwan Baran presents his exceptional eye for colour. Within this piece, Baran orchestrates a vibrant composition where yellows, reds, and oranges are dramatically juxtaposed against blocks of serene, cool tones of grey, illustrating his profound mastery of palette. Against a subtle backdrop, the work reveals an exquisite interplay of texture and layering, each brushstroke and chaotic grattage contributes to the dynamic whole. Baran's manipulation of shadow and light imbues the abstract composition with a sense of depth and complexity. This piece not only highlights Baran's artistic prowess but also offers a captivating exploration of colour and form.

Born in 1968 in Baghdad, Serwan Baran received a BFA from the University of Babylon, College of Fine Arts in 1990. The decade following his graduation, the artist started exhibiting in Baghdad, winning multiple prizes namely at the Baghdad International Festival of Visual Arts in 1994 and 1995. Having received mentorship from Faik Hassan and Marwan Kassab Bachi, Baran seems to have welcomed their influence as part of his unique artistic identity. He settled in Amman, Jordan in the 2000s to finally move to Beirut, where he currently resides and works. Having been enrolled in the army, Baran’s art often centres on poverty, war (mostly in Iraq), tension and anxiety, without a hint of romance, but rather in a very honest realistic manner. His recent works often feature an infusion of Figurative Realism into abstract works.