Nadim Asfar, a Beirut-based photographer said, “I think until recently, photography was linked to information and war and was a reflection of reality, and people were afraid of images in the Middle East. Before [photography was an art], it was a hobby. Now it’s becoming more part of the art market, because people are starting to understand what it can bring.”
A diamond in the rough The current Lebanese art scene, in all its variety and vitality, is in some ways still emerging from the previous few decades. “In the 1960s, Lebanon was a hub for art. But for the next 20 to 30 years, it was living in the dark ages because of the [civil] war,” Chamoun noted, but added that this is not necessarily a bad thing. “If you look at the renaissance in Western art after World War II, we see that war is not always a killer of art, but a springboard.” “Lebanon is coming out of the ashes,” Chamoun said, “and is being reborn from the dreams that were buried under the ashes.” Indeed, Beirut’s flourishing art scene comes at a time of economic and political stability as well as a record influx of tourists. A city renowned for its nightlife and restaurants is now gaining a more serious reputation as an important destination for art connoisseurs. “If the galleries are promoted well and they have interesting exhibits during peak season, then they could help in attracting tourists, especially if they’re coming to Lebanon for the culture,” said Dina Sleiman, head of travel agencies at the Ministry of Tourism.
When past meets present There is no doubt that Lebanon’s art scene is experiencing new life, with galleries mushrooming all over Beirut, and with Lebanese artists sought-after at prominent international galleries and auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s. All the buzz over Lebanese art also comes at a time when art is flourishing throughout the region. There are now more than 60 art galleries in Dubai and 20 in Beirut—and in the Old City of Damascus, at least five traditional and historical Arab houses have been converted into galleries. In 2006, Christie’s opened a showroom in Dubai, which is now an established hub for buyers of regional art. However, as far as the Lebanese art scene is concerned, Bassam Espace Kettaneh Kunigk
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“ The boom is starting again in Lebanon, and it is helping artists go back to their brushes and palettes. When the city is booming, everything goes with it.” — Rached Bohsali, LAU professor
Geitani, lecturer at the school of Architecture and Design, said he is worried about the trend toward conceptual art, especially with its emergence before the public is educated about the medium. “You need a lot of background to do conceptual art. It’s what’s behind the image,” he said. “Living in Europe or the United States has allowed some artists to develop their personalities, and it shows in their art. But sometimes it’s just copying someone who has lived abroad — and that doesn’t mean anything.” Despite certain emerging trends, many Lebanese artists, such as Jean Marc Nahas, refuse to change their style. Nahas, a painter based in Gemmayze, has a distinct style of sketches and paintings reminiscent of classical cartoons. He typically paints in series, and he often depicts men and women wearing traditional Arab or Ottoman clothing and showing extreme joy or sorrow. “I don’t want the market to influence my work,” he said. From what he can see, “art is something people understand or they don’t,” and it has very little to do with the market or trends.
VOLUME 12 | issue nº 3 | Fall 2010
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rom the fine art galleries of Ashrafieh and Hamra to the modern art spaces in the Lebanese capital’s industrial zones, Beirut is once again setting the trends for the region. “The art scene in Lebanon seems to be very active and alive — with new faces and new trends. The Lebanese public is being exposed to many different things, which is enriching to our cultural experience and bringing new dimensions to art appreciation,” said Chaouki Chamoun, LAU fine arts professor in the School of Architecture and Design. Over the past couple of years, close to 10 galleries have opened in Beirut. Some of them in the long-established, trendy districts, while others have blazed trails by opening art spaces in the city’s industrial areas. These new galleries, as well as the older ones, are experimenting with new ways of presenting art, from photography to videos to installations. The result has been a reawakening of modern and contemporary art. Just five years ago, it was almost unheard of to sell photography as an art in Lebanon. Today, some photographic art is being sold for more than traditional paintings. Compared to classical artforms, “photography is still hard to sell. We need to have people understand why it’s not just pressing a button or clicking, and why it can be the same price or sometimes higher than other [forms] that supposedly require more effort,” said Joy Mardini, manager at Espace Kettaneh Kunigk. “When a gallery insists on having a photography exhibition several times a year, then people come and ask about it. When they see there is an intellectual approach, then they are interested. Now they’re starting to understand.”