Arleb by Nabad interviews Celine Alam, graphic designer and visual artist.

Arleb by Nabad – What is the experience that has influenced your work the most? 

Celine Alam –  Learning about design at university inspired me to create my own art. I took a course in which I was asked to create a collage of things that sparked my interest, so I teared pictures I liked from magazines and created collages. I then traced the images into shapes. Furthermore, I learned how to communicate a certain feeling, interest or thought using shapes and colors! 

Arleb by Nabad – Which subjects or themes are you working on? 

Celine Alam – Being an introverted person, I observe and listen more than I talk. Thus, what fascinates me the most is life itself and the people that surround me. I tend to observe and understand every person I meet, and I spend time alone self reflecting. In that sense, I am deeply and spiritually connected to my inner self, and I allow my life to flow through the good and the bad days. These phases in life inspire and influence me!

Arleb by Nabad – What is your creative process like? 

Celine Alam – My creative process consists of researching about topics that trigger my mind or simply just contemplating life. I also look through some art inspiration sites and observe different art techniques and colors. Then, I look through color palettes that are complementary to my theme or my thoughts. Last but not least, I rip out images from old magazines that I connect with or that complement my theme. I create a collage of all the images, then trace shapes according to what I’m feeling. On lighter days, I trace soft organic shapes, and on heavier days, I trace more sharp geometric shapes. I experiment with the colors and shapes on a small Canson cardboard before adapting onto a larger scale canvas.

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

Celine Alam – Following the Beirut blast, I was devastated, disgusted and traumatized as everyone else. Because of this horrible experience, I realized how much better we all deserve! As a person who doesn’t express herself much with words, naturally, I turned to painting as a remedy, a pain-reliever. I wanted to better myself and improve my work in hopes that one day I’ll be able to reach people and make a change! As an artist, I feel that my art has evolved after the blast, in terms of technique and choice of color – I have opted for more grey and less bold colors. In conclusion to all this, I believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that we, the people, will be able to make a change!

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

Celine Alam – Many artists tackle issues concerning society, economy, environment or politics through their art. Art has a major role in society, since it has the power to change opinions, instill values, play with people’s emotions and at times, it translates experiences across place and time. It preserves a moment trapped in time, how it felt like to be living at a certain time and place in history. 

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

Celine Alam – I believe that the current economic crisis in Lebanon has left many artists struggling to sell their artworks to an extent that they feel the urge to decrease their prices in order to sell; this is due to the fact that more than half of the country’s population is trapped in poverty and unable to buy the bare necessities. In addition, the cost of buying the material needed to create an artwork, such as paint and canvas, has increased to at least four times its initial price, leaving the artist with absolutely no profit or maybe even loss.

CHECK OUT CELINE ALAM PROFILE AND ARTWORKS FOR SALE ON ARLEB.