At Modern Arabesque, we visited the solo exhibition of artist Ghylan Safadi, under the title "The Lives of Others" at Art on 56th Gallery, Gemmayze - Beirut, which opened on Friday October 1, 2021.
During the period of closure due to Covid-19 pandemic, Ghylan Safadi, inspired by his neighbors, friends, and those around him, who are going through different circumstances, created paintings as diaries.
Safadi's work focuses on cartoon imagery in order to produce pictographic-like social patterns, noting, Pointing out, that this method resembles and expresses him, more than any other method. The compositions are filled with diverse characters, each playing a role in the narration of these disturbing scenes. The images touch on social, political, environmental or even personal issues, each telling a story and unveiling an uncomfortable truth about the turbulent climate of today's world. Safadi's works subtly emit a certain irony, as childish representations contrast with ambiguous and mature themes.
The exhibition includes about 23 paintings, using acrylic and aquarelle.
Ghylan Safadi was born in 1971 in As-Suwayda, Syria, and graduated with a BA from the Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University in 2002. He has participated in many group exhibitions, both locally and internationally, including the Royal Center in London, the Arab World Institute in Paris, and an exhibition Lighthouse Mobile Gallery in London, Paris, Berlin, Washington, Kuwait, Dubai, Bahrain and Tokyo.
Art on 56th Gallery is an independent visual art gallery in Beirut, Lebanon. Founded in 2012, by Noha Wadi Muharram.
The gallery exhibits a large variety of media, including drawing, sculpture, paper work, photographic and video installation, and Safadi chose this particular gallery because he felt a positive energy and comfort in collaboration.
The exhibition continues until October 30, so do not miss the opportunity to visit it, and learn more about Ghylan Safadi's distinctive style.
Mabelle Milane
Modern Arabesque
