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At Rebirth Beirut, in an exhibition titled “Unmasked,” which runs from January 25 to February 3, 2024, gallerist Aïda Cherfan introduces us to a new talent: Georges Meouchy, an artist known for his original and unique style.
A self-taught painter who also works as a notary, Meouchy acknowledges being inspired by his varied social and professional interactions, along with his daily life experiences, to develop a deeper understanding of human nature. He strives to capture its subtleties and depths, making them the focal point of his paintings. Meouchy’s fascination with Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Two Heads, a notable work from the 1980s street art scene, sparked his creativity and marked the beginning of his artistic journey. Meouchy’s works, characterized by bold and colorful execution, echo the pop art movement of the late 1950s, a movement influenced by post-war popular culture, serving as both political and social satire and eliciting reflection and emotion.
In the gallery space, a captivating series of portraits engage the viewer. Set against dark or light solid backgrounds, the canvases display faces representing various social and professional roles, creating an ideal canvas for artistic exploration. Characters like a doctor, banker, sailor, clown, mime, actor, affluent bourgeois or military figure are portrayed in a stereotypical manner yet embody distinct, colorful personalities. This is achieved through a combination of bold expression and the modern, original style of the execution.
Through exaggerated yet nuanced lines, the artist peels away the mask of social propriety, revealing the intimate mysteries beneath. His work transcends caricature and decoration, delving beneath the superficial surface to explore the soul’s myriad nuances.
The painter’s brush animates the canvases with vibrant and joyful strokes in bright yellow, electric blue, fiery red and strong green. This apparent casualness belies a deeper portrayal of inner turmoil. The paintings feature faces fragmented into shadowy areas or crevasses, creating spaces for exploration, both empty and colored.
The exhibition presents intriguing spectacles: a blonde woman nonchalantly embodying the role of an objectified figure, her conical breasts emphasized by the fabric’s colored, concentric circles; the face of an ordinary man, his smile morphing into a grimace; a clown, his red nose flattened against his face, accentuating his inner turmoil; a sailor with starry eyes gazing towards a horizon of dreams and adventures; a doctor with an ovoid skull, swollen with pretense and supposed knowledge.
The banker is depicted pitifully, his neck constricted by a bow tie, his smile reduced to a hard line, his empty gaze trapped behind glasses mirroring the color of money. Through these portraits, the painter plays with ambiguity, unmasking flaws and fragility while maintaining a light, humorous and delicate tone. In doing so, he brings a ray of light into the darkness.
These figures seem to gaze at us intently, acting as mirrors reflecting our own limitations and flaws. Yet, ultimately, they present a joyful and comforting image, thanks to the artist’s compassionate perspective who guides us, through the vibrancy of his art, into a realm of weightlessness.
This unique and playful exhibition, available until February 3, is not to be missed.
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@jogannepaintings
Editor’s Note: Georges Meouchy, initially discovered and encouraged to pursue painting by Dr. Tony Karam, achieved his first major artistic success with a solo exhibition at Rebirth Beirut, organized by Dr. Karam in March 2023. This exhibition, highlighted by Ici Beyrouth, marked the public debut of Meouchy’s works. Warmly received, the exhibition enabled the artist to jointly win the award for the best first solo exhibition, given by Gallery Magazine. Furthermore, Dr. Karam played a crucial role in including Meouchy’s works in a significant charitable auction, organized by LAU in New York.
