Beirut Art Center will host an exhibition, while the show will also spread over the streets of Beirut, creating a dynamic interaction between the exhibition’s venue and the city. Eighteen Lebanon-based artists- the figureheads of the Lebanese street art and graffiti scene- will participate in the various WHITE WALL activities and outdoor interventions throughout Beirut.
Since the Civil War, public space in Lebanon had been occupied by inscriptions and stencils related to war and sectarian politics. Western-style graffiti appeared infrequently as of the mid-1990s. It was not until 2005 that a new scene emerged, taking on the task to create a uniquely Lebanese style of this art form. This scene is now burgeoning and the streets of Beirut have witnessed the birth of new artists mixing caustic stencils, western influences and Arabic graffiti. These interventions contrasted with public expectations, since they promoted unity over division and maintained a humorous and often critical look at Lebanese society.
One of the key issues raised by this event is to understand how it is possible to bring an inherently outdoor and accessible art to an indoor space like Beirut Art Center, without betraying the idiosyncrasy of this art. While the first graffiti exhibition was already held in 1976 in New York City, this remains a challenge until today. The title, WHITE WALL, confronts the white walls of the galleries with the streets of the city, a challenging prospect for a street artist.
Curators:
Charles Vallaud aka Prime (France)
Siska (Lebanon)
Don Karl aka Stone (Germany)
In Partnership with: Tania Helou (Fondation Saradar, Beirut, Lebanon)
Artists:
Ammar Abo Bakr (Luxor, Egypt)
Aya Tarek (Alexandria, Egypt)
Benoit Debbane (Beirut, Lebanon)
Btoy (Barcelona, Spain)
El Seed (Tunisia/France/Canada)
Graffitimuseum (Germany)
Inti (Chile)
L’Atlas (Paris, France)
Obetre (Belgium)
Mark Jenkins (USA)
Parole (Brussels, Belgium)
Reso (Toulouse, France)
Tanc (France)
Zepha (France)
Lebanon-based artists participating in WHITE WALL’s outdoor interventions:
Abe, Ali, Ashekman, Ben, Dih Dihzahyners, EPS, Fish, Horek, K-Brit, Kimewi , m3alim, Oras, Pac , Phat 2, Sens, Twik, Y2T, Yazan, Zed
Program (so far):
September 6 – November 3, 2012
Exhibition at Beirut Art Center (BAC)
The multimedia exhibition inside BAC will reflect on graffiti in a mix of paintings, photographs, videos and installations.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
6h00 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
September 6 – 13, 2012
Murals and outdoor interventions throughout Beirut
Respecting the character of graffiti as a street practice, a part of the works will be made in the street. All international artists are coming to Beirut for two weeks.
They will arrive ahead of the exhibition in order to research and prepare their interventions. Each will be accompanied by local artists when working in public space.
Sunday, September 8, 2012
Workshop – “Arabic Graffiti” by Tunisian-French, Canadian-based artist
El Seed.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Debate – “The Arab Graffiti Revolution” in the BAC auditorium.
September 16 – 23, 2012
Walk the City – Guided tours and walks will be organized for the public to read the walls of the city and interpret their writings.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Roundtable organized by Fondation Saradar. Prominent panelists will tackle the phenomenon and its evolution on the Lebanese scene, from a revolutionary expression of socio-political and war-related messages to urban street art.
Additional activities are scheduled Wednesday evenings
(film screenings, book launch, artist’s talk, etc.).
//More information and program updates you can find on the event's official site at: http://www.whitewallbeirut.com/?page_id=5//
