User:Semaankhawam
Semaan Khawam:
contemporary figurative painter, sculptor, graffitist, poet
Biography :
Semaan Khawam aka birdman is born in Damascus on 04 march 1974. he is a self-taught painter, sculptor, graffiti and installation artist who lives in Beirut since 1988. He was granted the Lebanese citizenship in 1994. One year before he was granted the citizenship, the Syrian army launched a draft for all 18 years old Syrians to join the military service. In a desperate attempt to run away from this bitter fact to be called and become a soldier and as an opportunity that presented itself, he entered a land mine in Batroun that caused him to lose his leg but gain his freedom as an artist. Semaan started to paint in 1993 but after his injury and the several operations he went through, he began starting 1996 alongside writing to paint on a daily basis. Semaan’s art has its own signature. Despite his eclectic choices that are inspired from his rich and diverse entity (he is also half Armenian, half syriac) the style of his art is more close to the neo expressionism. Semaan uses his work to draw attention to political contradictions, social injustice, the lack of cultural appreciation and other uncomfortable realities. Early in 2012, he spray painted an armed soldier on a wall in Gemmayzeh to remind people of the Lebanese Civil War, something that he feels has been forgotten. His arrest for this act drew international attention to the limits on free speech and artistic expression that he and other Lebanese artists work within in advertently but also ironically reinforcing his earlier messages. In addition to being a visual artist, Semaan is also a script-writer, prop designer for film and theatre and poet. His art has been exhibited in Lebanon, the Gulf and Europe.
Honorary Citizenship:
Semaan Khawam was granted the Honorary Citizenship of the City of Palermo in 2017
Critics:
As a painter : “Exposing a deflated ego with a faint perennial transience of a Kippenberger-like casualness, he privileges themes of isolation and marginalization to countermand a socio-political dogma of censorship and modern day despotism”, wrote Rawya Bikhazi.
As a sculptor : “All my sculptures are made with recycling materials that I used while working in my studio even from my cigarette butts”, explained Semaan to the journalist and Arts and Culture Contributor, Christiane Waked.
As a poet : “Like a drowned man, beyond all the mirages and exactions of a human crossing, Semaan finds "beyond the top of a hill, a window inside of himself ", wrote Edgar Davidian for L’Orient le jour.
As a script writer:” Semaan Khawam gives free expression to our discontent, and hold up a mirror to a society that is sentimentally and unapologetically criminal”, wrote Moe Shreif for the Kindle project.
Videography: Shame and Soul” is a videodocumentary by Marco Pavan that traces the highlights of the meeting, which took place in Beirut in January, between two extraordinary artists: British photographer Giles Duley and Syrian artist Semaan Khawam, exiled in Lebanon. Giles and Semaan dialogue with each other through their own art and their story becomes a symbol of how no barriers exist between humans, when hearts beat as one. Semaan and Giles have both contributed to Imago Mundi, the non-profit contemporary art project promoted by Luciano Benetton.
• Exhibitions and installations:
• 1997- Props designer for the (hour of the wolf) theater play by Elie chalhoub, LAU, Beirut , Lebanon
• 1999 – Acting and art directing and props for the film (Dystopia) by Mohammad Cherif, LAU , Lebanon
• 2000- theater of Beirut collective exhibition. Beirut .Lebanon
• 2001- theater of Beirut personal exhibition. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2001- Scriptwriting and co-director for (الملجأ) theater play, Lycee Abdel Kaber/student production. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2001- Collective exhibition- installation-Exist at Space SD. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2002- Script writing- acting for the short film (time) by Joyce samaha –LAU. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2003- Collective exhibition –painting at Epreuve D’artiste. Beirut .Lebanon
• 2004- Art directing (celle-ci n’est pas ma clarinette) a short film by LIN Codeih. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2004- Installation-The departed with Rafik majzoub at Janine Rubeiz Gallery. Beirut .Lebanon
• 2006- Exhibition paintings- King crow King fish with Rafik Majzoub at Nada Doubs Gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2009- Collective exhibition- Art mix at Joanna seikaly art gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2010- Collective exhibition- Art mix at Joanna seikaly art gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2010 –Acting – OMAR a short film by Joelle Beayni. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2011 – Collective exhibition- Art mix at Joanna seikaly art gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2011 – Collective exhibition at rochane art gallery.Beirut. Lebanon
• 2011 – Collective exhibition at art circle gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2012—Beirut art fair exhibiting with Joanna seikaly art gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2012 – Alternative electro mecanique – collective exhibition at EM space. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2012 – Collective exhibition (kisses o an Enemy) with thaer marouf at Sana gallery. Singapore.
• 2012 – Nanbel –web TV show – (dark comedy) co-writer and Art director with Mohammad Shreif as writer and director. Beirut.Lebanon.
• 2012 – Chair, table, a birdman- solo show at Joanna seikaly art gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2013 – Collective show at The Rivoli 59 Gallery. Paris. France
• 2013 - The wooden rifle – acting – a documentary by Alfouz Tanjour. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2013 – Collective show - Three-Dimensional Interpretations (sculptures) at Art Circle Gallery. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2013 – Collective show – Embrace Art Exhibition at The Main Gallery, Le Yacht Club. Beirut.Lebanon
• 2013 – Collective show – Fall in Exhibition at Espaces Ephemeres. Beirut. Lebanon
• 2013- Solo show - (Ink, metal, charcoal & coffee) at Art circle gallery.Beirut, Lebanon.
• 2014 – acting – (Incarnation of a bird from an oil painting) a film by Omar Fakoury and Roy Smaha – winner of best experimental at Beirut film festival
• 2014 – Kuchling gallery Berlin – ( Displaced portraits ) – with Maria kassab.
• 2015- ART 15 - London's Global Art Fair -London,
• 2015- Art Fair Beirut – Lebanon ,2015 • 2015- “Untitled” An exhibition by artists MOHAMMAD TAMIMI & SEMAAN KHAWAM
• Albareh Art Gallery ,Bahrain, • 2015- "Innerscapes"
• A group exhibition By Artists Annie Kurkdjian, Charles Khoury and Semaan Khawam
• Albareh Art Gallery ,Bahrain,2015.
• 2016- "Views"
• A group exhibition By Bahraini and international artists ,Ritz Carlton, Bahrain,
• 2016- Summer Collection - A group exhibition By the artists presented by Albareh Art Gallery ,Bahrain,2016
• 2016- art fair Beirut with Albareh art gallery
• 2016- collective show at rochne art galley Beirut with artist Fadi elchamma
• 2017- shame and soul with Giles Duley , show at imago mundi-Luciano Benetton Collection ,Palermo ,Italy
• 2017- collective show with Wadi Finan art gallery , Jordan
• 2017- Art Fair Beirut show gallery Rochne
• 2017- Art Fair Abu Dhabi show with Albareh Art gallery Bahrain
• 2017- resident artist with Legacy of War association , Giles Duley photography show ‘ I can only tell you what my eyes see” London
• Publications • 2002- ( كتاب شعر صادر عن دار المختارات ( مملكة الصراصير
• 2012 – ( دليل المهرج ) Amers EditLuciano كتاب شعر صادر عن
• Articles
• Daily star • http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Art/2011/Dec-30/158307-a-colorful-and-varied-year-end-exhibition.ashx#axzz1zfRc5uG1 • http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ArticlePrint.aspx?id=94675&mode=print • http://www.tadamon.ca/post/1073 • http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ArticlePrint.aspx?id=113682&mode=print
• Nowlebanon • http://nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=382353
• New Eastern Politics http://www.neweasternpolitics.com/the-one-legged-birdman-syrian-lebanese-artist-semaan-khawam-journey-to-freedom-interview/
• Mtv • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWr0zRe9qM
• الأخبار • http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/61523
• http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/63871
• البلد • http://www.albaladonline.com/ar/NewsDetails.aspx?pageid=31076
• الحياة – دليل المهرج • http://alhayat.com/Details/412308
• اليوم السابع • http://www3.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=650899&SecID=94&IssueID=87
• السفير • http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=131&EditionId=2116&ChannelId=50496
• أصوات الشبكة France 24 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6R3HtK4bkI&feature=player_embedded#!
• Daily star • http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Art/2012/Jun-26/178161-is-it-time-for-formalist-street-art.ashx
• BBC news • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18118752
• ANNAHAR • http://www.annahar.com/article.php?t=adab&p=1&d=24918
• ALMUSTAQBAL • http://www.almustaqbal.com/storiesv4.aspx?storyid=5485
• Agenda Culturel • http://www.agendaculturel.com/POD_Chair_Table_a_Birdman_Semaan+Khawam