Dirty Mirror Selfie is a solo exhibition by Lebanese artist Marwan Sahmarani, currently on display at the Leila Heller Gallery. The exhibition features bold, expressive paintings that delve into the relationship between self-perception and the often distorted realities surrounding us. Sahmarani’s works confront the darker facets of human nature, challenging viewers to grapple with uncomfortable truths about existence. The show will welcome all visitors until 15 January 2025.
Set against the backdrop of a region defined by political upheaval, Sahmarani vividly portrays the paradox of human advancement alongside a primal, aggressive instinct. Each artwork acts as a reflective surface, urging viewers to look beyond the surface and confront the raw truths that shape personal and collective realities.
Through his vivid use of colour and dynamic compositions, Sahmarani invites viewers to examine their egos and explore the connection between external perception and internal realities. The artworks, rich with striking tones and layers, expose the unvarnished truths we carry as individuals and societies. The varied shades of skin depicted in his pieces powerfully symbolise human fragility and resilience, highlighting the beauty and vulnerability of shared experiences.
About the artist
Marwan Sahmarani (b. 1970, Beirut, Lebanon) splits his time between his hometown and Tarbena (Spain). In 1994, he graduated from l’École Supérieure d’Art Graphique Penninghen in Paris (France).
Sahmarani’s art reflects the intensifying political turmoil in his homeland through powerful brushstrokes, textured layers, and vivid colours. While rooted in the traditions of landscape painting, his work leans toward abstraction and expressionism. He examines the recurring cycles of violence in the Middle East, exploring themes of destruction and the human tendency toward conflict. His central question is poignant: how do two individuals reach the point of mutual destruction?
Sahmarani has showcased his art pieces in many exhibitions, such as Black Moon (solo) (Gallery Kashya Hildebrand, London, UK, 2014); Between A Rock And A Hard Place, the 3rd Thessaloniki Biennale (Greece, 2011); Convergence: New Art from Lebanon (American University Museum at the Katzen Art Center, Washington, D.C., USA, 2010); and Mecca Cola (solo) (Clair Obscur, Montreal, Canada, 2004), to name a few. In 2010, Sahmarani received the Abraaj Capital Art Prize (Dubai).
To get more information about Dirty Mirror Selfie, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
You might also be interested in visiting Navigating Through Nothing by Syrian artist Thaier Helal.
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