Arleb by Nabad interviews visual artist Merheb Merheb, winner of the Bnachii Prize for Painting in 2016 and 2019, and the first prize of the Beirut Blast Masterpiece Contest Art in 2020.

Arleb by Nabad – What is the experience that has influenced your work the most, and which subjects are you working on?

Merheb Merheb – I was first influenced by philosophical and physical related thoughts, which can be summarized in the suffering and oppression of the human body, then I recalled childhood memories and started narrating my story, describing semi-destroyed places…and an equation that sums up ‘being’. Everything consists of parts and ends with parts. I am currently working on the issues of oppression and suffering, whether due to wars, explosions or social injustice, and the cry in my work is a relief factor and a warning that humiliation has an end.

Arleb by Nabad – What is your creative process like?

Merheb Merheb – I use different tools in my work — sometimes called mix media –, and I do not like to classify myself as a sculptor or painter, so the formation of the creative process is not limited to a category, but to the thought and the cause of a person and a civilization.

Arleb by Nabad – What was the impact of the Beirut port explosions (August 4, 2020) on your work as an artist/creative enterprise?

Merheb Merheb – There is no doubt that the impact of the explosion in Beirut was a great shock for me, especially when I saw the oppression, pain and injustice that befell the city. My work reflects suffering, screaming and fear. My last project was about highlighting the extent of the pain that was inflicted on the residents of Beirut as well as the destruction of cultural symbols through the damages to the old heritage houses.

Arleb by Nabad – What are, according to you, the roles of arts and culture in social, economic, environmental or political change?

Merheb Merheb – The role of art is complementary. Art is able to interpret any issue and present it in a different way so that people can understand it, not only in Lebanon but also on a global level. Art calls for freedom and change, and it is up to people to think and act.

Arleb by Nabad – What are, according to you, the main challenges/obstacles facing artists/creative enterprises in Lebanon nowadays?

Merheb Merheb – There are many problems faced by the arts and culture community. Art needs stability and internal security to be able to develop and transmit the suffering of people and make change. Although the art scene has been active since the Beirut port blast, its movement is slow, and there are not enough opportunities for local artists and art critics who end up leaving the country, looking for spaces in which they can develop themselves and societies that appreciate their work.

CHECK OUT MERHEB MERHEB PROFILE AND ARTWORKS FOR SALE ON ARLEB.