TIMELESS TRADITIONS: Solo Exhibition
17 January - 8 February 2025
TIMELESS TRADITIONS, Solo Exhibition
Artist Statement

My collage art encompasses cityscapes, local landscapes, and themes of heritage and nostalgia. The artworks are deeply inspired by the moments and issues I encounter in day-to-day life, reflecting my memories and my emotions with authenticity and care, drawn from my surroundings.
 
A notable and recent evolution in my practice is the increased emphasis on preparing my own papers rather than relying on clippings from external sources. While I began experimenting with this approach in my previous solo exhibitions, it has become a central aspect of this collection. This deliberate and thoughtful preparation allows me to fully immerse myself in the process, carefully choosing the media, techniques, and textures to convey my visions. Though time-intensive, this approach is deeply fulfilling; the result is the creation of artworks that are multimedia in form yet rooted in my trademark collage themes.
 
This exhibition focuses on a series of mixed media collages on both cardboard and canvas. My process involves creating semi-abstract compositions using textures and motifs I prepare with process involves creating semi-abstract compositions using textures and motifs I prepare with techniques which I employ, including calligraphy, etching, and silkscreen.
 
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, reflecting the uncertainty and the fear I have experienced.
 
Yet, in spite of the turmoil, the beauty of the city and the surrounding mountains emerges as a recurring theme in these collages, offering a stark contrast to the devastation on the outside. These works capture a sense of hope and resilience, celebrating the vibrancy and spirit of Beirut and its natural landscapes, even in the face of adversity.
 
My collages are and have always been a reflection of my environment. Beirut, along with the scenic mountains and the country’s diverse beauty, continues to inspire me and influence my work and processes.

                                                                                                                                        Haibat Balaa Bawab

 

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, Lebanon 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.

 

“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 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.]

 

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.

 

Maie El-Hage - Art Historian

 

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