Ghost-Like is the title of the latest exhibition by artist Wissam Melhem at Rebirth Beirut in Gemmayze until May 29, curated by Dr. Tony Karam.
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As part of Rebirth Beirut, Wissam Melhem returns to delight us with his paintings, gracefully displayed on the white walls of the former traditional Lebanese house that was transformed into an exhibition space for art enthusiasts.
Rebirth Beirut is primarily an NGO whose mission is to breathe new life into Beirut and instill hope in the city’s residents through art and its wonders.
Architect Wissam Melhem is supporting this humanitarian endeavor in his own way. He depicts houses and explores the complexity of a city, perhaps Beirut, through his paintings.
Having already presented his recurring five elements (bird, house, human being, cloud, and crown) in his previous works and exhibitions, he surprises us once again by reshaping his ideas with newfound emotions and incredibly precise brushwork.
The third dimension emerges in his work, astonishing us with the layers of transparency that blend on his jute canvases against vibrant backgrounds.
With the midnight blue standing out on monochromatic backgrounds, the artist draws shapes and figures using a fine brush that applies white paint in delicate touches and overlapping layers.
His meticulous work demonstrates mastery of rhythm and poetic creativity. In a virtual and translucent world where humans hide behind a tablet, obvious questions arise. Has our life become ghost-like? Are we so alienated by technology that we disappear under multiple layers of our humanity?
Thus, Wissam Melhem presents his paintings through these very “layers” that he paints in white, like the veil of a ghost hiding behind a screen. Silhouettes are seen drawing and disintegrating in a thousand ways across his paintings.
On the other hand, the painted houses blend and merge, doubling and unfolding in depth and dimension. They seem to emerge from the canvas and settle into our awe-struck retinas, just like the images that emerge from our screens, to the point of numbing us.
The blue light emanating from our tablets might be the same blue background that brings forth the shapes and curves that the artist draws.
In this exhibition, we observe continuity and extension in Melhem’s art. He highlights his five elements, but they are not always present in each of his paintings. Flowers sometimes appear in the form of clouds, and elongated characters offer various suspended emotions to the observer.
As for his new approach to houses and buildings, the recognizable roofs of Beirut are painted in red, and the ‘mandalouns’ of traditional Lebanese houses playfully appear in deliberate imbalance.
This solo exhibition offers art enthusiasts a pleasant moment to discover themselves. Above all, it is a return to the self, where each person reflects on their own approach to the virtual world that is advancing at an incredible speed. One would wonder to what extent emotions can assert themselves in this transparent way of life. Can ghosts fall in love?
The exhibition is curated by the tireless Dr. Karam, who accumulates art projects and musical moments. It is also thanks to the efforts of his team that consistently supports artists, including Mrs. Rita Maatouk, who expertly manages the logistics.
A beautiful opening reception took place at Rebirth Beirut and was attended by the elite of the art world. The event was enhanced by a stunning dance performance by the talented Carly Mouannes.
The arts converge in an obvious and phantasmagoric way on the Lebanese scene, and we are delighted to enjoy them.
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