New talents on the rise

In a joint collaboration between FFA private bank and the Beirut Art Residency; CUB Gallery is currently exhibiting the work of students and graduates of Fine Art programs across Lebanon; in an initiative aimed to promote new talents. BCP had the opportunity to visit and meet with featured artists, particularly photographers showcasing their pieces.

One of the new emerging photographers exhibiting her work is Yasmeen Baz. Inspired by her father; a former war photographer, and her mother; an art admirer. Baz was raised in Beirut before moving to Paris to pursue her on going studies in photography at the Paris College of Art.

In a brief talk with Baz, she describes her admiration for abstraction, which is apparent in her body of work ‘Obscure’.

‘Obscure’ is a photographic series developed from one photo; An image of mountains taken from a plane over a country that is unknown. The photo is fragmented into different forms following intuitive lines to create isolated landscapes with distorted perspectives and scales. In doing so, Yasmeen enables the viewers imagination, and allows them to immerse themselves in the images.

Another abstractive photography series “ A girl goes for a swim – Above Water II” presented by Joseph Rouhana, a Film and TV student of the Lebanese University; consists of a girl who goes swimming and looses herself in the water; as Joseph explains; the girl represents today’s internet’s generation, scattered in different personalities and lost in their identities “the girl in the pool represents an inner battle, one moment she looses herself then she regains her being; the girl represents my own battle, my constant search of identity and where do I fit in this big world, it is not necessarily bad; However, it is just my way of telling the world of my inner battle through my work”, expressed Joseph; and his pieces do reflect a blend of contrast and confusion, indeed.

While the initiative is outstanding, the selling prices of the exhibited artwork promote a contradicting theory.

More established Artists are selling their work for an average price of $500 comparing to a $400 set price for a piece of art crafted by current and newly graduated students, creating a discrepancy that is worth questioning.

In doing so, CUB gallery answered by saying that prices vary depending on sizes, experience and medium; and are set in collaboration with artists. Some have had other exhibitions, hence more experience.

The exhibition is on view until the end of October at the CUB Gallery in Beirut.