An exhibition of the Lebanese cure Ghaddar at the Tashkeel Center in Dubai

"Different Stances" ... a tribute to the mural art

Through the "fresco" technique, Ghaddar poses a question about what would happen if the murals lost their prestige.

Photography: Ashok Verma

Under the title "Different Stances", the Lebanese artist Shafa Ghaddar presented her exhibition at the Tashkeel Center in Dubai, which she completed within the program of critical practice for the years 2018 and 2019, through which she returns to the origins of the murals and colors, relying on the adaptation of the "fresco" technique that she uses frequently, to grant works Many possibilities, after it eliminated the stationary state that this technology imposed on the murals, and gave the works endless forms that come from the moment and are subject to change with changing the place and way of setting the work.

In the exhibition, which is a tribute to the art of the murals, Ghaddar works on colors with the technique of "fresco", and poses a question through technology about what would happen if these murals lose their prestige?

In the exhibition, the artist used the marks that the artist puts in order to infer what he can accomplish within one day of work to draw permanent marks, which made her get surfaces that are frequently renewed.

The works presented by Ghaddar bear a variety of shapes. The surfaces of the paintings, due to the richness of colors and the layers in which white, blue and gray are distributed alongside the plaster material, turned into solid fabrics that resemble carpets to a large extent, and bear much of its strength.

As for the weight of the work, it was the main factor that moved its shape when it was hung or when it appeared to be sliding on the wall or bending on the floor.

Actress Shefa Ghaddar spoke to "Emirates Today" about the cash practice program, and said: “I participated in the program when I felt that there were gaps in my art that I could not overcome on my own. The program gives me the opportunity to work with coaches who help me to get rid of some of the sticking points in my artistic work. Which opens the horizon on the various dimensions in the artistic experience as a whole ».

About her work during the program, she confirmed that she cut it before and after childbirth and when she returned to Dubai, the Corona crisis began, noting that she was encouraged to write at home, because she did not need any materials or place, but after life returned to normal, she worked intensively.

As for remote communication and relying on trainers who resemble the artist to some extent, Ghaddar considered it one of the factors that give the artist a kind of reassurance and comfort, in addition to the feeling that she is getting an education, so the communication was distinguished on more than one level, sometimes personally, and sometimes through a platform. Zoom.

Ghaddar started her work on the exhibition with research that took her months, explaining that it was the research that enabled her to present more professional works due to the help and criticism of the experienced trainers.

Regarding the fresco technique that it adopts in its work, she said: “This technique is the application of natural dyes to the plaster, and work is done on it while it is in a wet state, and thus it determines how much it is possible to work on the wall area, or how to fill in part or part of the wall, And that dealing with it varies from time to time, as well as the speed of application and the stability of the materials, and therefore it is a technique that controls the artist in a specific atmosphere at work.

She pointed out that her relationship with technology transformed her dealings with art as a whole into a way of thinking directed in this way, noting that in this experiment she sought to remove technology from its stable and classic form, so she put colors on fabrics and what is subject to taking many forms, noting that the program allows experimentation, so what Not only does it use technology in different ways, but it also includes writing and voice, as I made the decision to think critically.

It respects the treachery of the material, and thinks about its dimensions and possibilities, and indicated that it has become less in control of the works and the materials, thus allowing the works to talk to it, which means that it has become less control over the process and allows the work to decide itself in the end.

Ghaddar worked on fabrics in multiple layers, which allowed her to choose the form that it takes and the stability, which she described as being momentary constancy, due to the multiple layers, as it is difficult for the work to take the same form, because gravity here is what takes matters into the form of work.

From a technical point of view, Shafa confirmed that the main challenges at work are that the result can only be seen after several months have passed, so what we see is not what is obtained, especially since work is not done in order to reach the normal classic painting.

She indicated that it is necessary for the artist to come to terms with the idea that what he sees is not what he gets, and that the time factor is also a maker of experience, with confidence in experimentation, as the result is not born today.

Blue was a revolution

"Blue Was Revolution" is a title that Shafa Ghaddar put together for a group of works that she presented during the exhibition, and indicated that she put the name due to the peculiarity of the blue color in the world of formation, especially with the fresco technique.

She pointed out that the blue color when it was discovered was a real revolution in the world of color, and is considered stubborn in the fresco technique, as it carries a lot of power in his presence, it is the dream and everything that is far away, so when we see it, we see how works return to us or how it pulls us inside.

Regarding the works presented on the table, she pointed out that she displayed it on this high table in order to create intimacy with the recipient, so that he feels that he is addressing her, and it is a presentation similar to the way in which works live inside the studio.

Treachery healed:

"It is necessary for the artist to come to terms with the idea that what he sees is not what is happening."

"I participated in the program when I felt there were gaps in my art."

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