The selection of works is the result of a survey sent to the artists of the gallery asking them what were the Lebanese artistic, literary and cinematographic works that they were able to see in various cultural places in the country, including at the gallery, and that have transformed their practices or impacted them in the last fifteen years.
The questionnaire introduced the idea of a work of art as an event according to Badiou, a notion inspired by his book Being and Event in which he explains that a form of violence is exerted on who lives, but also undergoes, the event. But an event is also what is memorable, what remains: which work would we remember as a time marker?
Fifteen works were chosen by the artists of the gallery, Naila Kettaneh and myself, guest curator, allowing on the one hand to map our views and discoveries but also to remember the places and past events in the city. This unique format reveals as well the life of an artist, a life marked by encounters and friendships like the one of Gilbert Hage and Jalal Toufic. This selection allows us to discover as well other important themes such as landscape and nature through the works of Daniele Genadry, Abed El Kadiri, Charbel Samuel Aoun, Nadim Asfar and Etel Adnan, revealing mystical mountains, invading trees and the distinct Mediterranean light.
– Karina El Helou
The exhibition opens on Friday, November 4, 2022 from 6PM to 9PM, with readings of texts by Dominique Eddé and Lina Abiad at 7PM. The exhibition remains on view until January 2, 2023.
15 years
Crossed Perspectives
A collective exhibition, curated by Karina El Helou,
in conversation with Naila Kettaneh Kunigk.
Galerie Tanit, Mar Mikhael
November 4, 2022 – January 2, 2023