A landmark show featuring the work of 33 talented Lebanese artists will take place at Cromwell Place in London from 7-11 June 2023.
LEBANON | UNTITLED, a collaboration between Janet Rady Fine Art and Artscoops, the leading online platform for MENA art, will present over 50 artworks of note, including paintings, mixed media pieces and sculptures, in what marks the largest showcase of Lebanese art in London to date.
Forming part of Cromwell Place’s Middle East curated moments for June, LEBANON | UNTITLED also marks Artscoops’ debut exhibition outside Lebanon.
Renowned artists featured include Willy Aractingi, Zena Assi, Alfred Basbous, Helen Khal and Nadia Saikali.
Notable highlights include Aractingi’s painting The Crow and the Fox, from his well-known series illustrating the fables of Jean de la Fontaine, a small oil on canvas by Assadour Bezdikian and a meticulously detailed figurative piece in Chinese ink on canvas by the celebrated artist Laure Ghorayeb (1931 – 2023).
A hand-built ceramic work by the multidisciplinary, prize-winning artist Zena Assi, titled Beirut, I Love You, and an acrylic on wood by Huguette Caland, known for her sensual portrayal of the female form, are among the other pieces of note.
The exhibition will also present key works by Hussein Madi, known for combining abstract design with Islamic art-inspired motifs, and Juliana Séraphim, whose evocative, dreamlike imagery is derived from childhood memories.
Explaining the idea behind the name of the exhibition, Raya Mamarbachi, founder, Artscoops, said the team had felt it was important to find a title that reflected Lebanon’s perpetual state of transition.
“We knew it was essential to let the art speak for itself rather than risk setting a pre-determined narrative with audiences,” she explained. “Knowing that we’re being joined for this exciting next step on our journey in the UK by Janet Rady, who has supported Artscoops since our launch in 2015, makes this show extra special.”
May Mamarbachi, co-founder, Artscoops, said she was thrilled that Lebanese artists were being given an opportunity to showcase their talent on a major platform and strengthen their reach in the UK, which is home to a sizeable Lebanese diaspora and significant number of international collectors.
“Lebanon has a thriving contemporary art scene, built on a rich artistic heritage, which deserves the level of international recognition that our exhibition will offer,” Raya agreed. “I’m incredibly proud of this exciting group of Lebanese artists and, at the same time, ecstatic to be bringing a welcome ‘good news’ story from Lebanon to the UK.”
Janet Rady added that London’s status as an established centre for Middle Eastern art made it the ideal location choice for what marks the city’s first major exhibition of modern and contemporary Lebanese art.
“I am delighted to be co-organising what is undoubtedly a milestone show and teaming up for this timely collaboration with Artscoops, which is recognised as the foremost platform for showcasing and selling Middle Eastern art in Lebanon and internationally,” she added.
LEBANON | UNTITLED is online until 30 June.
For more information on Artscoops and its year-round programme, visit artscoops.com and follow art_scoops on Instagram.
Press release from Artscoops
