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| Ihab Ahmad , Voyage 2, acrylic on canvas, 120 x 150 cm |
| INTRIGUING NATURAL SYMBOLS A Solo Exhibition by Ihab Ahmad Opening on Tuesday December 20, 2022 from 6 Pm. Exhibition from December 20 until January 3. Location: Mark Hachem Gallery – BeirutBeirut Central District, Lebanon PREVIEW ON ARTSY Mark Hachem Gallery is delighted to invite you to the upcoming event on December 20th showcasing the work of our artist Ihab Ahmad.A percentage of the sales will go to the Chance Association for children against cancer.A workshop of painting with the attendance of a group of children will be on the day of the opening (3:00-5:00 PM) in the presence of the artist Ihab Ahmad. |
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| Ihab Ahmad was born in Beirut in 1983, and studied visual communication art at the Lebanese University. While there, he participated in numerous classes and workshops in silkscreen printing, painting, and drawing. His works carry a theme of the juxtaposition between childhood joy, and the struggles and difficulties faced in youth. In 2016, he founded the Beirut Art Studio, a centre for art classes for children and adults in Beirut that provides people with a place to express their creativity and learn about art. His dedication to art as a representation of youth coincides well with the message of CHANCE, and focuses on maintaining the joys of childhood throughout the difficulties and trials they face. |
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| Ihab Ahmad, Cherry Blossom, acrylic on canvas, 130 x 85 cm |
Ahmad’s work is colourful and cartoonish, immediately grabbing the viewer’s attention with boldly outlined shapes and figures reawakening the playful side of art. He has developed a symbiotic relationship with intriguing natural symbols he uses in his work, such as trees, fish, and eyes that come together in patterns and geometric forms. The symbols he presents on his canvases trigger the imagination of the viewer, evoking a dialogue with the surreal that offers endless possibilities for contemplation. Despite the vivid colors and playfulness displayed in his work, the pieces vary in theme, and often carry deeper meanings that can be deciphered through the use of color and shape. While some works fill up the canvas, others are contained in circles and squares, each representing a different concept of the natural world perhaps seen through childlike eyes. He portrays a sort of organised chaos, where the jumbled shapes that would otherwise confuse the eye are tied together by pleasing colour schemes, allowing for the viewer to perceive the world in new ways. Ahmad’s artworks aim to represent hope for the future through the joys found in nature, a message which matches that of CHANCE in offering opportunity to the youth.  |
| Ihab Ahmad, Inside the Brain of A Bird, acrylic on canvas, 150 x 140 cm |
| Ahmad states that ‘Nature has always been my main source of inspiration. I translate its beauty unconsciously in my art by the use of its vibrant colours and astonishing elements.”He says of the exhibition that he ‘wanted to go deep in nature, to the smallest unseen details. Going beyond the surface has been triggering me for a while, looking at the beauty of nature from a different lens, and thinking of these thousands or millions of layers beneath in order to discover the invisible beauty of this world.’ |
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| Ihab Ahmad, Warriors of the Sun, acrylic on canvas,120 x 200 cm |
| He says of the exhibition that he ‘wanted to go deep in nature, to the smallest unseen details. Going beyond the surface has been triggering me for a while, looking at the beauty of nature from a different lens, and thinking of these thousands or millions of layers beneath in order to discover the invisible beauty of this world.’ In Ahmad’s own words, ‘What you will see in this exhibition is a pure self-reflection of how this world might look like, my imagination led me to a celebration ceremony. Because nature is always celebrating “life”, don’t you agree?This incredible world is never less important, it’s actually the source that helped in shaping the external beauty that we see in our daily life: the anatomy, the cells, the tissues, the veins etc. The invisible beauty is actually visible!’ Ihab Ahmad has participated in numerous shows worldwide, showing his work in exhibitions and art fairs in Beirut, Hong Kong, Paris, Sorrento, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Amsterdam, Doha, and Cairo, among others. |
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| CHANCE (Children Against CancEr) is a Beirut-based association that has been covering the treatment of children with cancer and blood disorders and supporting their fight against cancer since 2002. CHANCE has supported 800 cancer patients since their opening with an 85% cure rate, and are currently supporting 120 children in nine hospitals. This month, we are joining them once again to aid in their annual fundraiser, and showcasing the work of Ihab Ahmad. The CHANCE association actively supports the cancer treatment of 120 children in 9 hospitals in Lebanon. This includes treatments, therapies, laboratory tests, imaging and medications. To find out more about the CHANCE association and how to support its action, go to the website www.chanceassociation.org |