In her upcoming solo show “Timeless Traditions” at Art on 56th Gallery, Haibat Balaa Bawab reveals the evolution in her process while maintaining the subject matter that has continued to inspire her; the city of Beirut, Lebanon and its people, along with the scenic mountains and the country’s diverse beauty.
Beirut, January 2025 – Haibat Balaa Bawab is a Lebanese artist renowned for her pioneering work in collage art. In her pieces, namely her oil paintings additionally to her collage work, she intricately weaves narratives of Beirut and its people. The city where she was born and raised continues to influence her work. Her observations of quotidian Beirut scenes inspire her to translate these impressions into a distinctive artistic style.
Thus, Art on 56th Gallery is proud to announce “Timeless Traditions”, a solo exhibition featuring the captivating works of Haibat Balaa Bawab, which is set to open on 17 January 2025.
“This exhibition focuses on a series of mixed media collages on both cardboard and canvas, which reflect a range of subjects, memories, and daily life issues inspired by our surroundings,” Haibat Balaa Bawab states.
“These said artworks were created during a particularly turbulent period, spanning more than two years. The war forced me to retreat to my atelier—a space of solace and escape from the harsh realities we were facing. The process of creation became an act of survival and resistance, channelling my fears and emotions into the work. The abstraction in these pieces is more pronounced than in my previous works.”
Haibat Balaa Bawab received her BA in Fine Arts in 1975 from the Beirut University College [currently the Lebanese American University]. She holds 17 years of teaching experience at the Lebanese American University. She also took up the position of Fine Arts Coordinator at the American University of Science and Technology (AUST) from 2001 until 2022.
Balaa has exhibited in numerous solo shows in Lebanon, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. The various collective exhibitions she has participated in include both local and international venues. Locally, the above include AUB, LAU, ALBA, Haigazian, Station Des Arts, and the prestigious Sursock Museum. Internationally, she has exhibited at Grand Palais de Paris, in addition to shows in Cairo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Kuwait. More recently in 2019, she was invited to participate in the 8th Beijing Biennale China.
In the presence of the artist, “Timeless Traditions” will open at Art on 56th Gallery in Gemmayzeh, Beirut on 17 January 2025 between 6 and 9pm. The show is ongoing until 1st of February, 2025
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