The Kadisha Valley, a UNESCO heritage site, sets the stage for KDSHA, an annual event that sparks art narratives on contemporary themes at Villa Chamoun, a guest house in Hasroun, north Lebanon. This summer event, includes a pool installation and an exhibition titled ‘Mashawir’.
Rania Tabbara’s fascination with the Kadisha Valley and its spiritual connection to Gibran inspired her to create ‘Mashawir’, an art exhibition that unites artists around their personal journeys and expressions through sculpture. As she curated the exhibit, Tabbara realised each artist’s longing for human connection, discovering their intrinsic struggles and how this exhibit could unite them through their shared needs. Artists Ghassan Zard, Samar Mogharbel, and Hady Sy present 17 artworks collectively. All four artists express their discontent with the current state of the world, creating their own versions of a retreat into a more familiar, comforting realm.
Hady Sy’s steel sculptures aim to humanise numbers, reflecting his frustration with people losing their identities and becoming mere statistics. His work, ‘It’s a Numbers Game,’ seeks to restore humanity.
Ghassan Zard’s ‘Wandering Turtles,’ symbolise a return to nature and peace, qualities often associated with tortoises. His ‘Whispers of Nature’ creates a dialogue between nature and viewers with metal mushrooms representing ears, fostering a sensory connection.
Samar Mogharbel explores the interplay of resistance and surrender through her work with fiberglass, bringing a humanising touch to the material and evoking her background in clay, symbolising her bond with the earth.
Daniel Rey’s pool installation, ‘Alchemical Splash,’ transforms the pool into a sanctuary and a portal, offering an escape from tumultuous times. His work evokes the safety and comfort of home, symbolising a return to familial security and the human spirit.
Rony Zibara, owner of Villa Chamoun and initiator of KDSHA Art Narratives, aims to foster discussions on the role of contemporary art against Lebanon’s serene northern landscapes. A key highlight is the annual unveiling of the Villa Chamoun pool installation, one of the world’s largest canvases. This year’s installation, ‘Alchemical Splash,’ by London-based Venezuelan artist Daniel Rey, transforms the pool into an enigmatic underwater dreamscape, exploring themes of escapism and our complex relationship with the built environment. Rey’s work invites viewers to see the pool as a sanctuary, offering an escape from the chaotic times above the surface.
About Villa Chamoun
Villa Chamoun, nestled in the picturesque Kadisha Valley near the Cedars of Lebanon, is a guesthouse retreat infused with 1960s charm. Built in 1965 and meticulously restored, the villa’s revival celebrates local skills and traditions, fostering a sustainable micro-economy with Hasroun’s artisans and renowned Lebanese designers.
Location: Villa Chamoun, Hasroun
Dates: June 2nd to October 2nd, 2024