Shathaya
The Lebanese art is mostly influenced by Beirut's urban chaos and the continuous threats of violence and contradictions. Art appears to be the uncensored and perfect medium for expression as seen in Bassam Geitani's dynamic artistic production. Geitani is a contemporary artist based in Lebanon. His work is highly reflective of his daily life in Beirut and the ongoing political and social changes in this city. These have been a vital source for his recent anamorphic and calligraphic installations. In manipulating the inscriptions in the form of shrapnels, the artist attempts to "correct" the inverted word Allah in order for it to regain its spiritual meaning. It is an attempt to hide, wrap, and mourn the purity of religion.
The act of killing in the name of God is what the work condemns.
By using the shrapnel, a steep and dangerous object that carries negative connotations of war, death and injuries to write the names of God the almighty, Geitani is highlighting the tension in the controversial situation of killing in the name of God the protector. The work underlines the absurdity of this human spiritual complicated relation.
This installation is part of an ongoing project in which the artist aims at producing the 99 names of God as in the rosary, however, because of space limitation; the show only accommodates 19 of the 99.
Yasmine Nachabe Taan, Ph.D
Bassam Geitani was born in Lebanon in 1962 where he lives and works after living in Paris for fourteen years. He holds a master's degree in art from the University of Paris 1-Sorbonne and teaches fine art at the Lebanese American University. He has held various solo and group exhibitions in Washington, Beirut, Paris, and London. At Galerie Janine Rubeiz: «Psychologie de la matière» (1998), «Le depli" (2001), «Sueurs d'acier" (2007), «Le pendule" (2011), «Clin D'œil» (2014). He participated in the exhibition «Pinceaux pour Plumes» (2006), for the benefit of the Lebanese Foundation of the National Library; and his work was acquired by the British Museum. His practice spans across painting, installation, film and performance. Geitani's work has been showcased in different venues and fairs, such as Art Dubai, the Sursock Museum, «Artist's View» in London, «Visages francophones» in Cahors, France, and «Rebirth» at the Beirut Exhibition Center. The artist's works have been auctioned during the Christie's Auction Sale in Dubai in 2006 and 2007; his work has been acquired by private collections in Lebanon and France and is permanently exhibited at Galerie Janine Rubeiz.