Lebanese man transforms pencils into pieces of art

Record ID: 164290

  • Title: Lebanese man transforms pencils into pieces of art
  • Date: 12th January 2017
  • Summary: BEBNEEN, AKKAR, LEBANON (RECENT) (REUTERS) VIEW OF BEBNEEN VILLAGE IN AKKAR WHERE NAAMAN RIFAI WORKS ON HIS SCULPTURES SCULPTOR AND CALLIGRAPHER NAAMAN RIFAI ENTERING HIS SHOP RIFAI SITTING DOWN AT HIS WORK DESK IN HIS SHOP VARIOUS OF RIFAI SCULPTING ART ONTO A PENCIL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SCULPTOR AND CALLIGRAPHER, NAAMAN RIFAI, SAYING: "I used to sculpt on wood and stone as well as being a calligrapher, doing banners for customers. I felt like this wasn't enough, and that I had to transform this occupation to a hobby. So, I converged into focusing on Arabic calligraphy and I developed it to a point where I taught Arabic calligraphy in schools." RIFAI OBSERVING HIS SCULPTURE WORK WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS RIFAI SCULPTING A PENCIL WOOD SCULPTURE MADE BY RIFAI ON DISPLAY IN HIS SHOP RIFAI SCULPTING THE SHAPE OF A HAND INTO A PENCIL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SCULPTOR AND CALLIGRAPHER, NAAMAN RIFAI, SAYING: "By coincidence, I saw pencil sculptures on social media, it appealed to me, but I ruled out this experience because of the small size of the pencil, and its fragile consistency. I dismissed the idea for approximately a year, but when I saw them again I told myself - why not try this experience?" PENCIL SCULPTURES, WOOD SCULPTURE AND CALLIGRAPHY ART DISPLAYED IN HIS SHOP VARIOUS OF PENCIL SCULPTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SCULPTOR AND CALLIGRAPHER, NAAMAN RIFAI, SAYING: "Sculpting on pencils first started as a hobby but its demand is increasing day by day, because people like to offer them as gifts, so it is becoming a job. I would like for my students to inherit this occupation to my students and children for their future if it becomes a legitimate job from which one can support himself." PENCILS CARVED INTO A PAIR OF SCISSORS ON DISPLAY RIFAI'S PENCIL SCULPTURES ON DISPLAY PENCILS SCULPTED INTO WOMEN ON DISPLAY
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2017 14:23
  • Keywords: Akkar Sculpture Art creation pencil art Lebanon
  • Location: AKKAR, LEBANON
  • City: AKKAR, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015YRX26T
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:In Lebanon's northern village of Bebneen, a Lebanese artist has found a new way to channel his sculpting talent -- by carving names and shapes into pencil lead.
    Nahman Rifai, who comes from a family of artists, spent years perfecting the art of sculpture and calligraphy before discovering his new passion.
    "I used to sculpt on wood and stone as well as being a calligrapher, doing banners for customers. I felt like this wasn't enough, and that I had to transform this occupation to a hobby. So, I converged into focusing on Arabic calligraphy and I developed it to a point where I taught Arabic calligraphy in schools," Rifai said.
    Rifai first had the idea of pencil sculpting when he saw artists posting photos of their work on social media.
    It wasn't until a year later that he decided to give it a try himself.
    "By coincidence, I saw pencil sculptures on social media, it appealed to me, but I ruled out this experience because of the small size of the pencil, and its fragile consistency. I dismissed the idea for approximately a year, but when I saw them again I told myself - why not try this experience?" he said.
    After his first attempts of reshaping lead, two of Rifai's pencils were put on display in a gallery in Alley.
    The pencils proved to be popular, so Rifai continued with his craft alongside his teaching profession.
    "Sculpting on pencils first started as a hobby but its demand is increasing day by day, because people like to offer them as gifts, so it is becoming a job. I would like to inherit this occupation to my students and children for their future if it becomes a legitimate job from which one can support himself."
    Rifai sculpts on two, four and six mm pencils. He sells each pencil carving starting at 100 USD for a name and up to 500 USD if a client wants a specific shape.
    It takes him a few hours to carve a name into a pencil, while some shapes and images require a whole day's work.
    Rifai said he is one of around five pencil sculptors working in Lebanon.
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