Q and A with Issa Halloum (399 words, 2 min. read)
1. How old were you when you did your first painting and do you still have it?
Around the age of nine or ten, I started feeling drawn to creating shapes with a pencil. I used to doodle and sketch a lot, and I also had an interest in Arabic calligraphy. Over time, I found myself drawing even more. I’ve been into art since I was little, and eventually, I began adding color to my work. I don’t have my early sketches anymore, but the passion was always there.
2. Other than the obvious inspiration of the Bekaa Valley, what is your other main source of inspiration?
When I was young, I lived in rural, natural areas, and my vision was deeply influenced by the surrounding landscapes and nature. The Bekaa Valley in particular, was one of the key elements that inspired my work from an early age, as my memory was shaped by the many natural places I experienced throughout my childhood.
3 & 4. Your color palette is distinctive and is almost your signature, can you tell us how do you pick your colors and how you could maintain this consistency throught the years? Also, we recently are seeing a minor shift towards abstraction in your work, is this shift real, intended or experimental?
Nature is my main passion. Sometimes I express it through color, and other times, I am drawn to the small details that spark the creative process. That is why some of my pieces take on a simplified, abstract form ofen leaning toward cubism
5. After your success both in Lebanon and overseas in establishing yourself on the artistic map, where do you see yourself ten years from now?
When people ask where I see myself in five or ten years, I do not have a fixed answer. I have never been driven by destinations. What truly matters to me is the joy I feel while creating, the quiet fulfillment that comes with each brushstroke, each choice of color. If others connect with my work, that brings me happiness. But even if they do not, I have already received what I came for: the deep, personal joy of the process itself. I follow the flow of creation, not a set path. And wherever it takes me, that is where I am meant to be.
