From December 18, 2024, to January 17, 2025, Petram Chalach's "Stereo Vision" exhibition at Galerie Janine Rubeiz invites viewers to delve into the artist's poetic, metaphoric world, where the absurd and sublime converge, challenging perceptions of reality through innovative, thought-provoking pieces.
Lebanese self-taught artist Petram Chalach's ongoing solo exhibition "Stereo Vision" at Galerie Janine Rubeiz in Beirut showcases his unique ability to distill events, images and collective experiences into captivating painterly metaphors. The exhibition, which opened on December 18, 2024, and runs until January 17, 2025, marks Chalach's third solo show and continues to demonstrate his significant contributions to the contemporary art scene.
Chalach's artistic practice, which spans painting, ceramics, photography and digital art, is deeply rooted in the layering of forms and ideas. His works explore the complexities of thoughts and events through ongoing experimentation with inter-objects and inter-spaces, capturing the light that seeps between the foliage. Drawing inspiration from nature and visual language, Chalach condenses political ideas, historical events and reflections into poetic, metaphoric imagery that encourages viewers to question their perceptions of reality.
The exhibition's title, "Stereo Vision," is accompanied by a few lines of poetry that encapsulate the essence of Chalach's work:
"…another drum-hum-barrels, in prints kaiser, stereo visions:
masses massed, amassed. Nowhere near, here-tear, there.
Tremor, territory, terror.
consume-presume-resume
would you look the sun in the eye today?
Neither nor, either or?"
Born in Achrafieh, Lebanon, in 1988, Chalach's background in jewelry making has undoubtedly influenced his approach to art, as he skillfully navigates the tensions between the absurd and the sublime, the individual and the collective. His work oscillates between irony and sincerity, pushing the boundaries of visual language and inviting deeper engagement with the complexities of contemporary life.
Represented by Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Chalach continues to reside and exhibit in Beirut, where his innovative and thought-provoking pieces have garnered significant attention. In 2024, he was one of two recipients of the prestigious Boghossian Foundation Prize for visual arts, a testament to his artistic prowess and impact. Additionally, Chalach was invited to participate in the "Arts dans les Cités" art residency by the "Petites Cités de Caractère® de Bretagne" association in collaboration with L'Institut Français du Liban, further solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the art world.
Chalach's artistic journey has been marked by several notable exhibitions and contributions to group shows since 2015. His first solo exhibition, "Decay of Lying," took place in 2018 at KED – Beirut, followed by his second solo show, "The Mourning After," at ARTLAB in 2019. With Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Chalach has participated in various group exhibitions, including "30 Years of Color" (2023), "Visions of Today" (2021), "October 17, 2019" (2020), and "Bitasarrof," an exhibition for the benefit of the Lebanese National Library in 2016. His work has found its way into private collections in Lebanon, Amsterdam and France, a clear indication of his growing international recognition.
"Stereo Vision" serves as a culmination of Chalach's artistic exploration and growth, showcasing his ability to create works that resonate with viewers on a deep, emotional level. Through his masterful use of color, form and symbolism, Chalach invites audiences to immerse themselves in his world, where the boundaries between the real and the imagined blur, and the complexities of the human experience are laid bare.
As viewers navigate the exhibition space, they are confronted with a series of works that demand contemplation and introspection. Each piece tells a story, capturing a moment in time or a fleeting emotion, while simultaneously speaking to larger, universal themes. Chalach's ability to distill the essence of an experience into a single, powerful image is a testament to his skill as an artist and his deep understanding of the human condition.
The exhibition continues at Galerie Janine Rubeiz until January 17, 2025 (closed on January 1).
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