Artist Statement:
This exhibition focuses on a series of collages and oil paintings that depict a range of subjects rooted in both memory and reality in today’s landscape of Lebanon.
My process involves creating semi-abstract compositions from motifs and textures that I gather. Most recently for this collection, I have prepared the papers, rather than using clippings from external sources. I meticulously select the media, techniques and textures I like to employ, and often I make my own combination using acrylic, ink, gouache or others, while experimenting with calligraphy, etching, silkscreen, etc. The result is a multimedia artwork, largely dominated by the collage aesthetic.
My work in collage and oil painting is varied, with compositions of city scenes, local landscapes, heritage, and nostalgia, which reflect upon topical issues and events that I encounter in day-to-day life. I am inspired by what surrounds me, whether I am in Lebanon or traveling, and my work mirrors both my environment as well as my state of mind.
Haibat Balaa Bawab
