Asim Abu Shakra (1961 - 1990) - arguably the finest painter produced by Israel's Arab minority - graduated from the Kalisher art school in Tel Aviv and soon after became known for his cactus paintings.

Abu Shakra's paintings adopted the cactus bush of the Arab village - the selfsame Sabre identified in Israel since the 1930s as a symbol and emblem of locally born Jews. The bush, in innumerable variations, consistantly proved the expressive power of his brush and a dramatic colorfulness, all imbued with poetry.

 

Ten of Asim Abu Shakra's finest works were exhibited in Golconda Fine Art in March 2008.