Q and A with Ribal Molaeb (417 words, 2 min. read)
1. Of course growing up in a household surrounded by art is a big influence for you as a person and for your career. Can you tell us about one person outside of home who influenced you the most in your artistic career?
I heard many stories about Aref el Rayess as a child. Even though I could only meet him when I was a little child. His “stories” continue to influence me, him being such a strong charismatic aggressively artistic person.
2. What would you advise the new generation who are preoccupied with social media regarding how to educate themselves artistically?
Artistic taste and knowledge is a muscle which has to be trained. So go to art museums, art galleries, watch art documentaries etc…
3. Do you paint more when in Europe (Switzerland) or when in Lebanon? And why do you think that is?
I paint wherever I am, I spend 70% of my year in Switzerland and 30% in Lebanon.
I have studios both in Zürich and in Baissour. I try to work every single day wherever I am. So location doesn’t matter in my case. But as most of my exhibitions are currently in Europe and Japan. It is easier logistically to focus in my studio on Zürich.
4. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Continuing what I am doing now, painting, preparing for exhibitions and exhibiting worldwide. In the last 15 years, I toured the world as a musician performing in different halls. And since around 5 years, I travel for my exhibitions. So I aim to spread my paintings in as many cities as possible and be recognized internationally for my visual language. Searching for light and music in painting.
5. Give us your perception of Lebanese art in general.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Lebanese artists are the avant-garde in the region. So Lebanese artists have a strong artististic heritage which they can build on.
Artists in Beirut are like musicians in Vienna. We can be proud of lebanon and the artistic scene it provides for such a small troubled country.
But an artists creates his identity. Nationality shouldn’t be valid.
Fine Lebanese art is international art. Salwa Raouda Choucair, Aref el Rayess, Saliba Douaihy, Shafic Abboud and many others… those are not just Lebanese, they are more. It’s true each started from their lebanon, but they are recognized for their own artistic identity.
