An Article by A. V. (611 words, 3 min, read)
At the Mark Hachem Gallery, as of Thursday, January 15, 2025, Daisy Abi Jaber unveils a vibrant and emotional exhibition titled Behind the Image.
Born in Lebanon, Daisy Abi Jaber studied at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (1979–1985) and the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1987–1991). She has exhibited in France, Italy, and numerous individual and group exhibitions in Lebanon.
Marked by the Lebanese war and a disrupted childhood, her work reflects her dreams and anxieties, unveiling a universe of signs and colors she calls Behind the Image.
What is Deeper?
For the artist, Behind the Image conveys the idea that there is something deeper, something hidden, beyond what we perceive at first glance.
“My perceptions came to life when I first held the shattered glass fragments and the twisted lead from the stained glass windows blown apart on August 4. Everything started from there. I ventured onto the path of assembly, without constraints, without limits or boundaries. Once I made my first moves, the paintings emerged, influenced by the stained glass and the event itself. Colorful emotions were born, haikus gave titles to the images! It was an explosion of hues, words, and materials! For three years, glass, lead, canvas, pigments, and words shaped my daily life. Thus, Behind the Image was born, expressing my contradictory perceptions.” – Daisy Abi Jaber
Fragments of Pain
Sublimating the pain of the August 4 explosion, the artist collected fragments of stained glass and damaged lead to transform them into art. Elegant sculptures evoking feminine silhouettes or sensual flowers, and canvases meticulously worked with acrylic paint, unfold in an explosion of colors and shapes, revealing hidden images.
The haiku, a form of Japanese short poetry, captures fleeting emotions and moments that amaze or astonish. The titles of the artworks, themselves poetic, add an additional artistic layer.
Each canvas or sculpture is a message of hope that the artist offers to the viewer. Through the demolished silos, a bird soars. Daisy Abi Jaber masterfully transforms destroyed matter into a colorful beacon of hope for brighter tomorrows.
Cheers anyway / And the celebration goes on / To your health: This piece, filled with vibrant and colorful figures, reflects emotional richness. Bold outlines and vivid hues seem to embody the fragments of glass and lead transformed by the artist. The concept of “Behind the Image” is expressed here through the interaction of the figures, revealing underlying stories and emotions.
Bubbles at sea / Bloom in deep waters / White fireflies: Dominated by soothing blue tones and circles reminiscent of water lilies, this piece symbolizes inner serenity. It invites contemplation, where every image hides a depth waiting to be explored, in harmony with the exhibition’s spirit.
These moments remain / Memories of a happy past / Still present: Composed of dark textures and mysterious silhouettes, this painting evokes introspection and melancholy. The contrasts between shadow and light seem to uncover hidden emotions, akin to the gradual discovery of buried perceptions.
To love and to hate / Thorns and roses / Red and black: Vibrant floral motifs on a textured background convey an explosion of life and emotion. This work celebrates fleeting beauty and captured sensations, embodying the constant dialogue between light and darkness, softness and pain.
Each of Daisy Abi Jaber’s paintings reveals a unique artistic journey, where shattered glass and twisted lead become metaphors for emotional complexity. “Behind the Image” invites the viewer to look beyond appearances, to discover the hidden stories and inner emotions.
“It is always a pleasure to find an artist who explores beyond the standard box of canvas and paint and extrapolates meanings in all aspects of art”
Collector
