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After several years of devoting herself to painting in the face of both physical and emotional trials, Joy Najm emerges victorious, turning darkness into color with her pianist touch. Recently, her works have been selected to grace the artistic hall of the Smallville hotel in Beirut. She is also scheduled to partake in the exhibition of the renowned Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) in September.
Joy Najm channels her soul through the tip of her brush. Having taken up painting again after a pause of several years, she incessantly paints in colors. This art is not only a therapy for her to cope with the hardships of life but also a means that helps her access the heart of human beings. She brings out their authenticity and shares a crucial message with the world: that of going straight to the essentials. “I disclose the Self’s vulnerability through deep gazes,” she declares.
With balanced composition and harmonious and sober colors, intense eyes emerge from her canvases, marked by depth and emotion. “I reveal the intense emotions hidden behind the eyes of a person’s soul,” the artist confides.
Najm’s characters stand bold and authentic, free from any artifice or decoration. “I reveal the beauty of simplicity in a superficial world,” she elaborates.
The artist’s work underscores the prominent dichotomy between simplicity and rigidity. Her minimalist style, reflecting the essence of existence, communicates a vision that is both unique and elegant. Najm wields her brush with precision and perseverance, revealing its regular, persistent strokes. In the face of countless challenges and pains, despite the heavy weight of hurdles, she maintains a radiant smile. This positivity illuminates her canvases. “My paintings act as a catalyst for introspection, empathy and the unification of the Self with the soul,” she explains.
Her characters are as vivid as life itself. They resemble her, without her being aware of it. The artist moves from self-portrait to a universal dimension, that of experience and feeling. “I strive to underscore the importance of introspection and embracing our concealed, genuine and profound emotions,” the painter asserts. She does not merely label herself as an “artist” but goes so far as to embody the title.
The tips of her pianist fingers, the colors of her brush and her way of being all exude a radiant glow. She creates – be it at the piano, with her students, through her paintings, her writings or in her everyday life – resonating with the rhythm of love.
“Love” is the only word that matters to her, as it sums up everything. On her artistic journey imbued with the colors of emotion, this artist infuses her canvases with such hues. “I aspire to create paintings of emotions and traditions that evoke a deeper appreciation for the resilient spirit of humanity,” she concludes.
Her words, serene notes and inner world are all embedded in her paintings. They captivate the viewer in a kind of trance. Her paintings reflect the magic of art. As if looking into a mirror, we look into the generous and austere eyes of her characters, and we stumble upon ourselves.
Marie-Christine Tayah
Instagram: @mariechristine.tayah
