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“Disconnected” is the latest solo exhibition by artist Magda Chaaban, currently on display at The Gallerist in Sodeco Square, Beirut.
A child of war, Magda Chaaban found solace in her grandmother’s garden, a refuge from the external conflicts where she was cradled by loving arms, observing wooden shutters, a brick roof, clotheslines and kites. This is where she finds her inspiration, allowing her free spirit to flourish and manifest in her paintings. Her lines and shapes come to life on the canvas, becoming the essence of her imaginative journey.
In this exhibition, she expresses the persistent state of disconnection prevalent in Lebanon. We are disconnected from WiFi, electricity, the banking system and more, yet we still manage to stay connected to the rest of the world. It is the resilience and strength of the Lebanese people that keep them standing despite all obstacles.
It is from this extraordinary paradox that Magda Chaaban draws inspiration to create this series of paintings that showcase a constant state of disconnection/connection, against all odds.
She features a couple of endearing characters she paints across all her works, to express this underlying state of disconnect that defines the series. She portrays men and women in various everyday situations where they humorously battle the absurdities of a dysfunctional system.
She shares, “I imagined my books wriggling, then vanishing into flames. Mobile phones didn’t exist yet. We only had the landline, which was mostly out of service. The entire country was often disconnected. It wasn’t that long ago, but it feels almost like another life! Today, we have mobile phones, WiFi, the internet, laptops… Technology has certainly taken a giant leap, it’s undeniably impressive! But in this part of the world, even after so many years, the same problems persist.” And she paints all these everyday nuances.
Through a particular technique, the characters are often deliberately represented with disproportionate shapes to exaggerate the context.
The characters are sometimes in the middle of an urban landscape, where electric wires turn into tree branches for birds, amidst an overcrowded city. We see these figures in action, sometimes photographing the view, sometimes reading the newspaper, with a tarboush on their head.
The newspaper serves as a reconnection in an entirely unstable universe. The computer is sometimes a means of sharing, unless it has been plugged out. And the money we try to count would allow us to survive, provided we can withdraw it from ATMs.
This is the allegory of a system that does not work, in a country that wants to stay in the headlines despite everything.
The artist’s bright colors and touch of humor, expressed through her unique technique, bring smiles and inspire hope for renewal. It is indeed a message of positivity and hope.
The artist is also signing her art book during this exhibition. The gallery director, Ms. Alia Matar Hilal, who recently renovated the premises, welcomes visitors with her exemplary kindness and highlights contemporary art on the Lebanese scene.
The exhibition is running until May 11. It is, to say the least, a moment of total disconnection!
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