'FLOWER GIRL' - Collage
Dimension: 20.47'' x 28.35''
Certification of Authenticity: Apricus Art Collection
Signature: Signed by Artist
This collage represents a young woman preparing for her wedding, symbolized as a flower rising from her bed. The atmosphere is pleasant and serene, with her wedding dress on the left side of the artwork.
Choose options
BIOGRAPHY
Haibat Balaa Bawab is a Lebanese artist mainly known for her collage artworks. Haibat Balaa weaves narratives of Beirut and its people in her collages and in her oil paintings. Born in the city and having lived in it all of her life, the day-to-day scenes have had an effect on her and were translated in the artworks through her own style of art. She assembles fragments gathered from popular sources, such as magazines, stamps and bills to chart the fabrics of the city. She composes figurative images using abstract media. Scenes from the village, the harvest and the old times come into her mind. Carpets, rugs and oriental tapestry are found as a reminder of times of serenity and relaxation and are thus a recurring theme in her artworks. From the haute bourgeoisie’s houses to the floral and polychromatic patterns of peasants, refugees and beggars, Balaa employs different cut-outs as a signifier status.
My artworks in Collage and Oil Paintings are varied, ranging from city scenes and local landscapes to heritage and nostalgia, that are reflections of topical issues and moments. I encounter in day-to-day life. I’m inspired by what’s around me. Even when I travel, my work reflects my surroundings and my mood.
Haibat Balaa (1952) received her BA in Fine Arts from Beirut University College now (the Lebanese American University) in 1975. She has taught in the Lebanese American University for 17 years. Since 2001-2022 Balaa is the Fine Arts Coordinator at the American University of Science and Technology (AUST).
She has participated in collective exhibitions in AUB, LAU, ALBA, Haigazian, Galerie Rochane, Station Des Arts, Sursock Museum, Grand Palais de Paris, Cairo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrein, Kuwait, AUB, LAU among others. She was invited to participate in the 8th Biennale in Beijing (2019).
Haibat Balaa held solo exhibitions at Amateur Gallery (1991), Epreuve d’Artist (1996), Espace SD (2006), Galerie Alwan (2010), AUST (2012), Art On 56th (2014) and Agial Gallery (2018), Art On 56th (2023), Khawla for Art and Culture in Dubai and Abou Dhabi (2023)
In 1982, she was awarded the first and only prize by the Central Bank of Lebanon for designing a new Lebanese currency. Also got the first and unique prize in Makhoul show in 1979 and 1980.
A monograph of her work was published in 2012 titled “ Haibat Balaa Bawab: The Art of Collage”. Balaa composed AUST publications titled “Beyond the Medium I” and “Beyond the Medium II”.
Haibat Balaa is a member of the Lebanese Association of Painters and Sculptors and a member in the Artists Syndicate.
Artist Statement
This exhibition focuses on a series of Collages and Oil Paintings that reflect a range of current and topical subjects, memories, and daily life from the life and times of today’s current situation
My process involves making compositions that are semi abstract from textures and motifs which I gather. The recent and biggest changes I’ve made in this collection is to prepare the papers rather than take clippings from the surrounding. I like to take my time deciding what media, techniques or textures to use. Acrylic, ink, gouache and or other media using different art techniques, for example calligraphy, etching or silkscreen… The works take much longer to produce, but I feel satisfied to do this process. They are also multimedia in form, still dominated by collage themes.
My artworks in Collage and Oil Paintings are varied, ranging from city scenes and local landscapes to heritage and nostalgia, that are reflections of topical issues and moments. I encounter in day-to-day life. I’m inspired by what’s around me. Even when I travel, my work reflects my surroundings and my mood.