On Spaces and Places Artscoops talks to Hala Younes about the challenge and satisfaction of organising Lebanon's first-time participation at the Venice Biennale for Architecture Exhibition When Hala Younes discovered that the theme chosen for the 16th edition of the Venice Biennale for Architecture Exhibition was ‘Freespace’, her desire to...

On a Level Popular, unpretentious and always remaining true to her beliefs, the artist Yasmina Alaoui appears to have tapped into a desire among many for authenticity with her sculptures and mixed-media paintings.   Yasmina Alaoui is certainly not one for remaining in her comfort zone.  While many artists would be happy to continue...

Behind the Darkness A collaborative exhibition by Afaf Zurayk, Noel Nasr and Rami Saab explores the role that light and art can play in bridging differences   A collaborative show currently on display at Beit Beirut gives an added dimension to a thought-provoking series of paintings by the Lebanese artist Afaf Zurayk. Shifting Lights...

East Meets West   A relatively young gallery located in the heart of Mayfair, Sophia Contemporary is fast making a name for itself as an ideally positioned hub on a mission to promote global dialogue through art. Co-founder Vassili Tsarenkov discusses the hows, whys and what’s next with Artscoops      What factors did...

From Shared Traditions Come Diverse Talents   Syra Arts Gallery’s co-founders, Sylvia Van Vliet Ragheb and Randa Fahmy Aboul-Nasr, are providing welcome platforms in Egypt and Washington DC for artists from the Middle East and Iran to reach new audiences well beyond their shores.     What prompted you to first open Syra Arts...

A Fruitful Project in the Big Apple   Mohammed Rashid Al-Thani, founder of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Art, talks to Artscoops about filling an artistic and cultural void in New York City                               What inspired you to set up the...

Communication with a Cause    Communications and media services agency managing director and former gallery owner, Joumana Rizk-Yarak, flies the flag for art, social issues and other projects that are close to her heart, with a passion that is both tireless and enviable   Given that not many of us manage to combine our...

Playing with Perspectives   When it comes to cooking up some raw art, photographer Eddy Choueiry appears to have all the necessary ingredients     While three posters fixed on top of each other against a Beirut wall appeared to have little in common other than their positioning, something about the colours, composition and...

An Atypical Artist June Nabaa, daughter of the late, Lebanese painter Willy Aractingi, reminisces about her father’s influences, his family loyalties and her all-time favourite works   June on… …growing up in an artist’s household: My father was still busy working as a manager at Fattal Group when I was a child, but I do have vivid...