Biography
Enthralled by the cobalt loam of our village perched on the high mountains of Mount Lebanon, I had begun at an early age to sculpt clay-molds of birds and various other creatures that lingered before me. Later on, I chiseled various forms through the lime wood of our forests. However, my true awakening came at the age of 11, whilst attending the Collège des Pères Antonins in Baabda; thankfully so to a bald-elderly, and tactful instructor whom excelled in the fashioning of tan pottery. To this day, I can still picture the molded-celebrities, rested under moist tissue in the maitre’s somber workshop.
Consequently, my newly born passion for the arts had encouraged my participation to various academic competitions; although I had seldom or ever won, this issue did not throw me off of my interest for painting. In France, I continued to paint, and explore the works of pottery and paper mâché; but my extensive and fastidious studies in medicine hardly permitted me the luxury of time (especially during the first three academic years) in order to develop my acquaintance of the arts.
Nevertheless, the blooming artistic and cultural activities in France during the sixties and seventies had fed and tilted my artistic tendencies to the point of almost quitting my studies in medicine for the world of the arts. During this period, I had participated in an exposition at Paris which was held for the benefit of the Palestinians. I had also created a few drawings, used on brochures for the same cause. Further in Paris {and due to my amicable acquaintance with the sister of the artist Mouna Assoudi} I took advantage of my time there to admire and pursue the avant-garde statues of Mouna (coincidently, with whom I had recently reminisced of this époque).
Upon my return to Lebanon in 1985, I solely strengthened my interest in the arts {a much need distraction from the unrelenting and ceaselessness of the war}. I must say, that the praise and appreciation from my wife and friends had continuously encouraged me to persist.
The same year in Marseille, upon the birth of our second child, I had taken a long retreat of three months, during which I decided to reform my technical know-how of portrayal and colors {all while pampering my son, Nadim}. I realized that I had to attain all the right techniques prior to pursuing the arts any further; or abandon. I had also decided to explore all the museums of the region, as well as the expositions held around Beirut. At the end of two years, I reassessed my labors and agreeably decided to carry on!
I admired the works of Hussein Madi, and had visisted the workshop of Rafic Charaf and of Hassan Jouni as well. I looked at the “Black Birds” of Charaf with nostalgic gaze; exposed in the cafés and merchants of Jouni with popularity during the sixties. Later on, I participated in certain expositions that were organized by the Lebanese Artists Association.
During 1990 {due to the frequent bombarding of Beirut’s residential neighborhoods} my wife and two children were repatriated to France, so I took advantage of the situation and joined a pottery workshop in Aubagne. Since then, my interest in sculpting was highly nourished.
J’aurais peut-être donné plus au travail de tour d’argile mais le fait d’être rentré au Liban a coupé court à cette tentative. J’avais le métier de médecin qui paraissait plus adéquat surtout dans le social. Mais l’amour de l’art veille et me procure une grande espace pour continuer à vivre cette vie.
Perhaps, I would have dedicated more time to the mysteries and arts of pottery, but our return to Lebanon had somehow cut this venture a little short. I had taken upon myself my responsibilities to the medical field and practice which presented itself to be more appropriate and fitting by social standards.
It must be said that this website would not have existed without the drive and encouragement of my two children {Sandra and Nadim} that persistently believed that their father’s work merited to be seen and shared by all! Nadim had even actively participated to the construction of this site {especially since five years ago, he had commenced to explore the arts of painting and sculpting} Puisse-il… Inch Allah!
As a final point, I would like to say that this work has never been a mere distraction in my life, but rather, a truly serene-refuge, invigorated and ever nascent by love.
“What you did is really good….”
To Marie-Pascale, Sandra & Nadim.
