Thoughts on Art
Huguette Caland, an artist who lived in Beirut, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles, was relatively unknown despite regularly exhibiting her work. In LA, she became part of the local art scene, hosting influential artists, poets, and thinkers at her Venice home. Caland’s work explored themes of the female body, eroticism, and her own desires. Her style was described as "joyously defiant," using beauty to address taboo subjects.
Etel Adnan (1925-2021), one of Lebanon's most renowned artists, was born in Beirut and had a multilingual upbringing, speaking Greek, Turkish, Arabic, and French. She was a writer, known for her poetry, fiction, and journalism, and studied in Paris, Berkeley, and Harvard. Although she didn’t begin painting until her mid-thirties, she became a significant figure in the art world. Adnan returned to Beirut in 1972 and became editor of the newspaper Al Safa, where she published her poetry in Arabic.
Lebanon is often portrayed in the news for its conflicts, but it also has a rich and vibrant art scene. Despite ongoing challenges, many artists and cultural institutions continue to thrive, offering spaces for creativity, expression, and hope.