An Article by J.A. (600 words, 3 min read)
Beirut’s Art on 56th Gallery recently hosted Ghada Jamal’s solo exhibition, From Heartland to Homeland, a dynamic journey of color, memory, and identity.
Running from February 13, 2025, the exhibition showcased Jamal’s ability to capture the essence of Lebanon through three thematic series: Euphoria, Shared Perspectives, and Restlessness. Each series reflects Jamal’s connection to her homeland and how memory shapes identity and creative expression.
Techniques and Themes: A Study of Vibrant Layers
Jamal’s belief that “color is not limited to light” is central to her technique. She uses color as a language of emotion and movement, with fluid brushstrokes that blur the line between abstract and tangible. Layers of translucent hues create depth, while the interplay of warm and cool tones evokes different emotional landscapes.
Euphoria celebrates life’s fleeting moments of joy. Bold colors and sweeping brushstrokes create a sense of kinetic energy, as if memories are frozen in time. These spontaneous yet deliberate works capture the raw beauty of Lebanon’s culture and landscape, radiating vitality and optimism.
Shared Perspectives is more subdued, using architectural motifs and familiar landscapes as symbols of safety and community. These spaces shift and evolve, reflecting the fluidity of identity and memory. Light and shadow add contrast, symbolizing the tension between nostalgia and the unknown, creating contemplative works.
Restlessness is a bit darker and more introspective, channeling inner conflicts with black and deep-toned strokes. Yet bursts of bright color symbolize resilience and hope. This series reflects Lebanon’s historical struggles and Jamal’s personal experiences of displacement and longing.
Borders & Identity: Art as Political and Emotional Statement
Jamal’s Borders and Identity series addresses socio-political issues, particularly the suffering in Gaza. These works are raw and urgent, marked by aggressive textures and deliberate strokes that convey pain and defiance. Yet even amid chaos, glimmers of resilience shine through.
Her art becomes a form of resistance and solidarity. It invites viewers to feel the weight of displacement and violence, but also the unyielding will to survive. Jamal describes her art as a “visual negotiation between constraint and possibility”, reflecting both the struggles and hopes embedded in her identity as a Lebanese artist.
Ghada Jamal: An Artist with Global Roots
Born in Beirut in 1955, Jamal’s artistic journey took her from Lebanon to California, where she earned her MFA at California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA. She has exhibited across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, with her work held in permanent collections at institutions such as the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Modern Art in Qatar. After returning to Lebanon in 2002, Jamal continued to teach and mentor artists, demonstrating her dedication to the arts.
Her statement “I am humbled by profound constraints that coexist with boundless possibilities”captures her creative philosophy. She uses limitations as a catalyst for new modes of expression, pushing artistic boundaries while staying true to her roots.
Her message: The Art of Resilience and Hope
From Heartland to Homeland celebrates Ghada Jamal’s vision of authenticity, memory, and emotion. Her bold use of color transcends boundaries, telling stories that reflect not only Lebanon but the shared human experience. Jamal transforms personal and collective struggles into vibrant visual narratives that invite reflection, healing, and the discovery of beauty amid life’s challenges.
Her work is not just an artistic triumph, it is a testament to resilience and the power of storytelling through art. Every canvas speaks of hope, not in spite of suffering, but because of it. In that, Ghada Jamal’s work finds its deepest resonance.
