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ChI Art Dip into the contemporary art scene with ChI – galleries, artists….& where to buy on line

Agial Gallery, on Abdul Aziz St just off Hamra, has monthly exhibitions and stocks the most famous contemporary artists from the Arab world. Check out Dia Azzawi and Riyad Tappouni from Iraq, Munira AlKazi from Kuwait, Abdallah Benanteur from Algeria, Salwa Zeidan and many other contemporary Lebanese artists, and from the early years of the 20th century, the Lebanese Daoud Corm.

Rubeiz Gallery in Raoucheh, with its intimately spacious surroundings, named after the late, legendary Janine Rubeiz, who founded the first Lebanese cultural centre (Dar El Fan) in 1967, exhibits contemporary art, showing 6-8 exhibitions a year and is still run by the family. Recent exhibitions have featured both Arab and foreign artists, such as Moebius, Peter Alexander, Antonio Segui, Adam Honein, Graham Day, Etel Adnan, Shafic Abboud, as well as retrospectives of deceased artists. Open Tuesday to Friday 10-19h; Saturday from 10-14h. 1 Av. Charles de Gaulle, Imm. Majdalani (Bqe Audi), Raouché.Tél. (961) 1 868 290.Fax. (961) 1 805 E-mail: gjr@inco.com.lb

Galerie Epreuve d’Artiste, founded in 1979 by Amal Traboulsi has a reputation of seriousness, reliability, and a continuous search for quality and innovation. The Gallery has greatly contributed to promoting Lebanese art as a whole, showing the works of known artists as well as those of young up and coming talents. www.epreuvedartiste.com

Look out for anything by the legendary Iraqi painter, scholar and thinker, the late Issam El Said. If you are lucky enough to find any of his works, buy! Or try and find his paintings on line at http://www.artnet.com/artist/424209234/issam-el-said.htm l or in the UK, via the Aya Gallery www.ayagallery.co.uk  (visits by appointment only).

ChI Drinks…..ChI is basically a wine drinker, but also enjoys a really, really good cocktail (see Hanging Out section)

Wines – taste Latroun, or Ksara, Kefraya, Massaya from the Bekaa Valley (the former “granary” of the Roman Empire) – try the whites and the roses, which are great chilled, and taste terrific - especially with deep-fried Sultan Ibrahim (red mullet),; and the reds can be world class. The vineyards remained preserved (and in some cases, working) throughout the Civil War and beyond, so they are a true testament to the indomitable spirit of Lebanon.

Most of the vineyards can be visited for tastings and buying, and some even have restaurants. Shipping can be arranged – either by the vineyards themselves or via Aramex.

ChI Reads….(with a nod to Blue Chip’s “He reads….She also reads”)

  •   The Rock of Tanios, Amin Maalouf
  •   A Lost Summer: Postcards from Lebanon, ed Maureen Ali, Saqi books
  •   Pity the Nation: the Abduction of Lebanon, Robert Fisk
  •   The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, Robert Fisk
  •   History of Lebanon, Fawaz Trabulsi
  •   The Myrtle Tree, Jad el Hage

ChI is Listening to…..

  •   Anything by Nancy Ajram - the J-Lo of the Middle East, according to some;
      Ragheb Allama; and of course, anything by the perennial Fairouz, especially
      her song, “Beirut”, or “Mishwar”.
  •   Rachid Taha's Rock el Casbah (his Arabic version of ‘Rock the Casbah')
  •   Fat Horse by Beirut punk band The New Government.
  •   Fairuz CDs

 

Author: Emma Hooper