This exhibition serves as a tribute to Farid Trad, an observer of a bygone era since 1969. As an architect-engineer, Trad impacted various realms within and surrounding his profession, including pedagogy and organisational aspects. Over a career spanning 43 years, from 1926 until his passing in 1969, he evolved from a product of the Ottoman era to an instrumental figure in constructing the Lebanese Republic. Educated during the French mandate in Lebanon and later in France, he emerged as a driving force behind several institutions, notably ALBA, where he played a pivotal role since its Architecture school’s establishment in 1943. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Order of Engineers and Architects in 1951, assuming presidential roles and administrative responsibilities, while contributing to the higher council of planning.
Championing modernism fervently, Trad advocated for Beirut’s urban planning and the resolution of social housing challenges. A vocal critic of the Ecochard plan, he formulated his urban study for Beirut, addressing unresolved issues still pertinent today. A product of a generation witnessing profound historical and societal shifts, Trad stood at the nexus of the Arab modernity movement. Revered by his friends as the rigorously precise ‘Mouhandes’, Trad was closely associated with practising artists who influenced regional modernism’s growth. Throughout his career, he amassed an art collection, encapsulating the modernist evolution from the early 1930s to the late 1960s. The collection encompasses a spectrum, from Elie Kanaan’s evocative nocturnal scenes and portraits to pastoral renderings of Lebanese landscapes, Arminé and Harutiun Galentz’s ethereal portraits, and Paul Guiragossian’s family-themed large paintings. Artists like Georges Cyr, Youssef Hoyek, Michel Basbous, and Galentz among others, further contribute to the Trad collection, encapsulating an era of dynamic transformations halted just before Lebanon’s post-60s setbacks.
Rather than amalgamating these artworks into a singular vision, the exhibition unveils the distinct journey of each artist within and around early modernism. Their diverse relationships range from friendship to mentorship, collectively offering insights into a vibrant period of artistic evolution.
About Saleh Barakat Gallery
Following a significant journey of twenty-five years at the forefront of modern and contemporary Arab art, during which Agial Art Gallery played a pivotal role in reestablishing Beirut’s prominence in the Arab art scene, the need arose to confront new challenges and extend beyond regional boundaries.
The culmination of three years of planning and innovative architectural redesign, the inception of the new Saleh Barakat Gallery, coinciding with Agial’s XXV anniversary on May 25, 2016. The gallery found its home within the historic and culturally significant backdrop of the former Cinema Clemenceau, later known as Masrah Al-Madina. This transformation saw the site evolve into a thoroughly modern art gallery, executed to adhere to the highest contemporary professional standards.
Location: Saleh Barakat Gallery, Clemenceau, Justinian Street, Beirut, Lebanon
Date: 24 August – 23 September, 2023