Galerie Tanit, Beirut presents ‘Whispers of Nature’ a solo exhibition by Ghassan Zard from February 22, 2024 until April 3, 2024. In the exhibition the viewers will get the chance to explore the works of Ghassan Zard and have their senses encounter a duality where sight, sound, and touch intertwine. Zard’s pieces possess a subtle familiarity, touching upon universal themes, yet boldly break from reality to evoke emotions long forgotten. These creations allow viewers to rediscover their own memories alongside those of the artist.
By liberating materials from their utilitarian purposes, Zard explores the hardening of metals he employs. This results in a fusion of lightness and heaviness, creating layers that are both chaotic and harmonious. The reflectivity and texture infused into each piece breathe life into them.
The manifestation of one’s image in a reflection establishes a profound link between past and present, encapsulating memories within one’s own reflection. Zard’s mirrors pay homage to a pivotal moment in a German forest, unlocking a world of wonder previously confined to children’s stories. Framed by growths reminiscent of fungi, these mirrors serve as conduits to a realm where mushrooms, constantly emitting sound waves resembling human speech, engage in silent communication. By invoking forest imagery and the interconnectedness of nature, Zard playfully invites viewers to tap into the collective unconscious.
Silver pavilions emerge from the hollows of polished tree trunks, symbolising Zard’s playful integration of foreign elements into organic matter while adhering to nature’s script. The presence of sound in this seemingly lifeless forest hints at a vibrant exchange, bridging the gap between life and death on a molecular level. This symbiotic relationship between viewer and artwork cultivates imagination within a living forest that sings, speaks, and listens, serving as a conduit to childhood dreams and nostalgia.
Zard’s paintings, infused with elements of nature, mimic rain, light, steam, and skin through an organic technique. Their harmonious composition and vibrant rhythm immerse viewers in a sensory bath, evoking a synesthesia-like experience where visuals elicit auditory responses.
Preface by Rima Nasser:
Where stems of trees, aluminum and brass become conduits for the silent conversations. The aluminum pieces attached to the tree stems, resembling mushrooms, stand as symbols of growth, resilience and the quiet conversations that unfold beneath the forest canopy.
The walls, adorned with flat aluminum and brass pieces, present a visual symphony. Hilltops rise and fall, capturing the undulating landscapes of our natural surroundings, while clouds drift across the canvases, carrying the artist’s interpretation of the sea within their ethereal forms.. His hands, guided by an intimate understanding of the materials, mold and shape them into a visual poetry that speaks of the interconnectedness of all living things.
“Whispers of Nature” is an invitation to step into Ghassan Zard’s imaginative realm, where the boundaries between the man-made and the organic blur into a seamless tapestry. It beckons us to listen, not just with our ears, but with our hearts, to the whispers of nature that echo in each meticulously crafted piece.
As you explore this arboreal symphony, may you find yourself attuned to the silent conversations that resonate within the artistry of Ghassan Zard.
About Ghassan Zard
Lebanese painter and sculptor Ghassan Zard, born in 1954 and based in Beirut, reflects on childhood innocence in his art, aiming to evoke nostalgia and the joy of play. His work often depicts beings dissolving into colourful fragments, exploring the separation of thought and feeling. Zard’s paintings, initially influenced by lyrical abstraction, portray vibrant rhythmic universes akin to musical scores, while his sculptures, more subdued yet ironic, offer a contrast. Recent group exhibitions include “Kan Ya Makan” at Galerie Tanit, Beirut (2022), and “Something Blue” at Cromwell Place, London (2021). His latest solo shows include “Whispers of Nature” at Galerie Tanit, Beirut (2024), and “Mare Astra – L’Île où est né le Soleil” at Mazarine Variations, Paris (2022).
Location: Galerie Tanit, Beirut
Date: February 22, 2024 until April 3, 2024
Caption featured image: Ghassan Zard Isle #3, 2022, Brass Variable Dimensions. Photo Credit Elie Bekhazi