- Title: Veteran Lebanese artist showcases shrapnel sculptures
- Date: 5th January 2017
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (JANUARY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SCULPTURES MADE OUT OF SHRAPNEL FROM THE LEBANESE CIVIL WAR VARIOUS OF SCULPTURE OF A CAGE WITH BOOKS INSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, GINANE MAKKI BACHO, SAYING: "In 1982, during the Israeli invasion, we fled our home. After that we returned home and saw that it was all destroyed and what was left was bomb shell fragments, our home and office were both destroyed. That was what I gathered, I stopped thinking about my belongings because we lost everything, what was left were these pieces of bomb shell, and I don't know how it occurred to me to gather them as if it was a challenge because they invaded my home and destroyed everything." VARIOUS OF CEDAR SCULPTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, GINANE MAKKI BACHO, SAYING: "I called this exhibition 'Civilization' for a sarcastic reason because everything we have learned, and that mankind has taught us from civilizations, history and books, was not beneficial." VARIOUS OF METAL SCULPTURES OF TANKS WITH FIGURES REPRESENTING MILITIAS VARIOUS OF METAL SCULPTURES REPRESENTING MASS EXECUTION BY MILITIAS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF SALEH BARAKAT GALLERY, SALEH BARAKAT, (REFERRING TO BACHO), SAYING: "One lady could do all of this work alone inside her home kitchen. Art is a way for a citizen to express his feelings towards his society and towards regional events, it was very necessary to exhibit this unique experience that talks about the conflicts that are facing our communities today." VARIOUS OF SCULPTURES REPRESENTING MASS EXECUTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR, MONA TARAZI, SAYING: "The exhibition of Ginane Makki Bacho is really surprising, very special with accurate and beautiful work. Even though it represents the war, it contains beauty and life and that is the beautiful thing about it, that throughout the representation of tanks and captives there is a strong idea of life." VARIOUS OF SCULPTURES REPRESENTING MIGRANTS IN BOATS VARIOUS OF WRITING ON GLASS READING (ARABIC) 'SALEH BARAKAT GALLERY' EXTERIOR OF SALEH BARAKAT GALLERY
- Embargoed: 20th January 2017 10:36
- Keywords: bomb exhibition civilisation shrapnel sculpture metal expression war Ginane Makki Bacho
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Art,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XSXR9X
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: After discovering her home had been destroyed following the 1982 Israeli invasion, Lebanese artist Ginane Makki Bacho decided to transform her trauma into art by creating sculptures out of the pieces of shrapnel that littered her devastated home.
"I stopped thinking about my belongings because we lost everything, what was left were these pieces of bomb shell, and I don't know how it occurred to me to gather them as if it was a challenge because they invaded my home and destroyed everything," she said.
The theme of conflict runs through her sculptures in her latest exhibition, 'Civilization', on display at the Saleh Barakat gallery in Beirut.
The exhibition, which is divided in two parts, includes iron sculptures of cedar trees, Lebanon's national emblem, as well as depictions of 'trans-national' militias and mass executions - a reflection on the conflict that has been taking place in the region for many years.
"I called this exhibition 'Civilization' for a sarcastic reason because everything we have learned, and that mankind has taught us from civilizations, history and books, was not beneficial," she said.
Bacho added that an aim of the exhibition was to bring people together in understanding the value of human life.
Saleh Barakat, who owns the gallery where the pieces are being displayed, said he had been a fan of Bacho's work for many years and welcomed the idea of displaying all of the metal sculptures she'd forged over time in one place.
"One lady (referring to Bacho) could do all of this work alone inside her home kitchen. Art is a way for a citizen to express his feelings towards his society and towards regional events, it was very necessary to exhibit this unique experience that talks about the conflicts that are facing our communities today," he said.
Visitor Mona Tarazi said although the pieces were reflections on conflict, she could appreciate their beauty.
"Even though it represents the war, it contains beauty and life and that is the beautiful thing about it, that throughout the representation of tanks and captives there is a strong idea of life," she said.
'Civilization' runs until January 7. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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