Biography
Mohanna Durra, born in 1938 in Amman, Jordan, to a Lebanese mother and a Turkish father, was a renowned Jordanian painter and diplomat. He was a pioneering figure in introducing abstract art, especially cubism, to the Jordanian art scene. Durra was best known for his expressive clown portraits, characterized by free-flowing lines and vibrant colours, capturing the profound emotions of his subjects.
Durra served in government for nearly four decades. In 1961, he took a post at the Jordanian embassy in Rome under the Ministry of Culture and Information. He later served as Director-General of the Department of Culture and Art in Amman from 1977 to 1983, and as Director for Cultural Affairs of the League of Arab States in Tunis from 1980 to 1981. He also had residencies in Rome, Cairo, and Moscow. Durra exhibited widely across the Arab world, Europe, Russia, and the United States. His works are held in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Vatican, the Imperial Court of Japan, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Art, and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Durra passed away in 2021.
Artwork
