- Title: Historic Beirut park hosts contemporary art exhibition
- Date: 11th October 2016
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (RECENT) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE OF RENE MOAWAD GARDEN, SANAYEH VARIOUS OF SCULPTURES ON DISPLAY IN THE GARDEN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FOUNDER AND CURATOR OF ART IN MOTION, RANIA TABBARA, SAYING: ''Resistance and Persistence was inspired by this garden, because it held and stood with us throughout all the events that happened in Lebanon. The role of the garden was for art in the times of the Ottoman rule, so we wanted to renew the idea of this garden and give it the value it deserves, that's why we decided 'Resistance and Persistence', to work on contemporary art and introduce our society to all of this.'' VARIOUS OF ART PIECES EXHIBITED IN THE GARDEN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SCULPTOR, NABIL HELOU, SAYING: ''The main objective is for people to react, those who don't go to museums nor galleries, to react to the sculpture, the work of art and the sculpting work in a spontaneous way, to take pictures next to it, to sit on the sculpture, to see it and feel it better. In this way we are training people visually, those who are not used to museums and the work of art to be able to react to the sculpture better.'' VARIOUS OF BOTTLES INSIDE FOUNTAIN AS PART OF EXHIBITION VARIOUS OF 'DELIRIUM' INSTALLATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTIST, ADA YU, SAYING: '''Delirium' is the recreation of the function of the human inside world basically, when you have the inner thoughts and perceptions, it is all in fractions, it is all mixed up and it always functions all altogether. Whereas outside, when you are facing the mirror you can see the entire outside basically, but when you close your eyes and try to imagine yourself, you see just like bits and pieces.'' VARIOUS OF INSTALLATIONS IN THE GARDEN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIFE COACH AND ARTIST, GRACE KHLEF, SAYING: ''My opinion about what I'm seeing here today is that it is a very beautiful thing to Lebanon. It is a new concept, it is the first time I see that they are bringing installations from outside and exhibit it here to introduce the common people to the different ways of art because people usually don't understand what art is, they think it is just a painting or a sculpture, but here we are seeing new installations that express artists, and I believe it is a really beautiful thing.'' VARIOUS OF INSTALLATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FREELANCE CONSULTANT, HAZEM KHLEF, SAYING: ''For the first time the exhibition is happening outdoors and it is creating a clean environment being outdoors, not like usually where it's held in a closed room or space. It is also giving artists a chance to interact with people, also that is very good, it's very good for Sanayeh, good for Beirut and good for Lebanon, to get away from bad news about the country every day. This is a happy thing, something important and smooth, it is nice for people to come see and smell clean air here at least.'' VARIOUS OF LEBANESE MINISTER OF TOURISM, MICHEL PHARAON (SECOND FROM RIGHT) WITH TABARA AND OTHERS VARIOUS OF WIDOW OF FORMER PRESIDENT RENE MOAWAD, NAYLA MOAWAD, AT THE EVENT INTERACTING WITH OTHERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT THE EVENT
- Embargoed: 26th October 2016 10:55
- Keywords: Lebanon Art installation exhibition garden international artist public spaces
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Reuters ID: LVA00153K62XH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Contemporary artists from Lebanon and several other countries are showing their works in an outdoor exhibition in Beirut.
The early 20th century garden, René Moawad, is hosting sculptures and installations by 24 artists from Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
The title of the exhibition is 'Resistance and Persistence' -- a theme that organisers say is a tribute to the garden, built in 1907 and has withstood the country's political upheavals.
"Resistance and Persistence was inspired by this garden, because it held and stood with us throughout all the events that happened in Lebanon. The role of the garden was for art in the times of the Ottoman rule, so we wanted to renew the idea of this garden and give it the value it deserves,'' said Rania Tabbara, co-founder of organiser Art in Motion.
Among the participants is sculptor Nabil Helou, who has been exhibiting his work locally and internationally for more than 20 years.
His recent work is dedicated to public art, to enhance the interaction between viewers and monumental sculptures in public spaces.
"The main objective is for people to react, those who don't go to museums or galleries, to react to the sculpture, the work of art and the sculpting work in a spontaneous way, to take pictures next to it, to sit on the sculpture, to see it and feel it better. In this way we are training people visually, those who are not used to museums and the work of art to be able to react to the sculpture better," he said, standing in front of his fibreglass work.
Among the international artists at the exhibition is Ada Yu, who was born in Kazakhstan. She explained what her art work 'Delirium' is about.
"Delirium is the recreation of the function of the human inside world basically, when you have the inner thoughts and perceptions, it is all in fractions, it is all mixed up and it always functions altogether. Whereas outside when you facing the mirror you can see the entire outside basically, but when you close your eyes and try to imagine yourself, you see just like bits and pieces,'' she said.
The visitors had a chance to interact with the artists.
"It is a new concept, it is the first time I see that they are bringing installations from outside and exhibiting them here to introduce the common people to the different ways of art," said visitor Grace Khlef.
"It is also giving artists a chance to interact with people, also that is very good, it's very good for Sanayeh (neighbourhood), good for Beirut and good for Lebanon," said Hazem Khlef.
The event runs till October 24. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
