DON'T FEED THE ARTIST (part 2)

posing in front of "the city"

DON'T FEED THE ARTIST (part 2)

the final self-portrait from my installation/performance DON'T FEED THE ARTIST at the ABU DHABI ART FAIR 2012.

more pictures can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbaj/sets/72157631940899488/

DON'T FEED THE ARTIST (PART 2 - ABU DHABI ART FAIR 2012)

DON'T FEED THE ARTIST (PART 2 - ABU DHABI ART FAIR 2012), a set on Flickr.

i am doing again the performance/installation/exhibition for 5 days at the abu dhabi art fair 2012.
many images from the cage and the works are visible here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbaj/sets/72157631940899488/

My latest book (in french)

Cette histoire se passe
can be found in all bookstores in lebanon

It is distributed in France by L'Oiseau indigo (http://www.loiseauindigo.fr/)

And it can be found online at:
www.antoineonline.com
www.amazon.fr

under the parisian sun

we are luxembourgeoising

Parisian Drawings

I am invited to an artist residency for two months in paris (september and october).
i am posting on flickr most of the work (notebooks, paintings, etc.) produced during my stay.
you can check the first batch here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbaj/sets/72157627557639011/

also, if you are in france, you can come to one of my two exhibits and three concerts. please send me a message for the full program (in paris, la seyne-sur-mer, arc-et-senans and draguignan).

Your eyes

this is one page from my contribution to the annual 24 PAGES IN 24 HOURS challenge.
the whole story can be found at: grandpapier.org/mazen-kerbaj/
(click on "l'homme-cassette" for this year's story and "les gens qui parlent for last year's one)

NOTEBOOK 2.1

About the notebooks:

In 2000 i began to use extensively notebooks as an experimental portable laboratory.
I filled 24 one before getting somehow bored with them around late 2009.
In october 2010 i found a new notebook that i really liked in Amsterdam and started again.

The notebook in this movie is the first volume from this second series.
Some of the drawings can be seen in higher resolution at the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbaj/sets/72157626016808391/

I LOVE BEIRUT / I HATE BEIRUT

visit my flickr page for some new paintings added.

LES GENS QUI PARLENT

Les gens qui parlent

A story done in 24 hours for the annual 24pages in 24 hours international challenge proposed by grandpapier.
There was a given constrain given at the beginning. you can find it here.

I hope you'll like it.

Entre soleil et lune // china ink and acrylique on kraft paper reinforced on wood // 120x240 cm // by L. Ghorayeb & M. Kerbaj 2010

TOI ET MOI ET LE PAPIER PEINT
a 4 hands exhibit with lebanese painter laure ghorayeb (who also happen to be my mother)

is finally ONLINE !!!

dear friends,
for all of you who missed this exhibit that took place in beirut in march-april 2010, i finally uploaded ALL the drawings/paintings on my flickr page. the photos are not great, but they show at least what this quite unique experience gave birth to.
here's the link to the set (to enlarge a photo, first click on it than click the "all sizes" button that appears above it):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbaj/sets/72157623820131805/detail/

(by the way, if you are filthy rich and/or you are looking for a good investment for the future of your kids, some of the paintings are still available for sale. please send an email for more info about any piece you are interested in)

WORMHOLES #1 (excerpt 3/3)

THIS IS PART 3/3 FROM THE FIRST WORMHOLES PERFORMANCE (BEIRUT 2009).
(here's the links for the first and the second excerpts)

SECOND PERFORMANCE WILL TAKE PLACE AT LES HALLES, BRUSSELS (halles.be) NEXT WEEK (29/04/10).

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Wormholes is an ongoing audio-visual project by Mazen Kerbaj and Sharif Sehnaoui. It is performed live and in total improvisation mode.
The excerpt shown here is taken from the first performance, Wormholes #1, played at Beirut Art Center on November 18th, 2009.

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WORMHOLES by Sharif Sehnaoui:

The question of a music/drawing duo has been persistent since the early stages of my artistic relation with Mazen Kerbaj, but how to frame it?

In 2008, Mazen came to me with a new system he had developed, that could allow him to perform in a live setting. It consists of drawing on a glass table, using a wide array of ink, water, solvents, brushes and various unidentified objects. With this setting, both sound and visual elements are improvised and exist only during the timeframe of the performance. Nothing is permanent or even fixed, the lines have their own life, they are constantly modifying. As I can stop the sound of my guitar by muting the strings with my hand, Mazen can erase his entire drawing with one move. The possibilities for interaction have increased considerably.

Wormholes is an attempt to alter a specific segment within time and space, hoping to open a corridor between two artistic disciplines, allowing them to give each other meaning. It is in many ways the outcome of over 12 years of artistic collaboration and understanding. (Sharif Sehnaoui)
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you, me and the painted paper !

please visit my flickr page for new pictures from the evolution of my joint exhibition with laure ghorayeb (opening next wednesday).

progressing on works

working on "toi et moi et le papier peint", a joint exhibition with laure ghorayeb.
please check my flickr page or the facebook event for more pictures and info.

DON'T FEED THE ARTIST (an exhibition/performance by mazen kerbaj)

dear friends,

if you happen to be around brussels between the 4th and the 12th of december, please drop by the Halles de Schaerbeek
for my new exhibition/performance: DON'T FEED THE ARTIST
info: http://www.halles.be/event.php?id=649

for those who cannot afford the travel to brussels, you can check my blog
(www.mazenkerblog.blogspot.com) or my flickr page
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbaj/) for daily pictures of the exhibit,
starting the 5th of december.

for those who cann afford the travel, please note that besides the exhibit,
i will also play a trumpet solo in the same venue, on the 6th of december,
at 5.30PM

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DON'T FEED THE ARTIST (for a bad english version scroll down please)

"Le regard des autres sur ma peinture ce n’est pas mon problème, c’est leur
problème. Je ne peins pas pour les autres, je fais de la peinture pour
moi-même."
Francis Bacon – Entretiens avec Michel Archimbaud

Quel est le statut de l’artiste dans la société? Est-il un demi-dieu, un
parasite, un exhibitionniste, ou une bête de foire? Quelle est la nature de
sa relation avec les spectateurs et non spectateurs?

L’œuvre a-t-elle besoin du spectateur pour exister?
Créer une œuvre d’art est-il un combat?

Qui en sort vainqueur? Où est l’arbitre? Et quel est le ring?
Quelle relation l’artiste entretient-il avec son œuvre?

Peut-il réellement disparaître derrière cette dernière?
D’où viennent les idées? L’inspiration existe-t-elle?

Peut-on jamais créer quelque chose de nouveau?

Le processus n’est-il pas plus important que le résultat?

Peut-on considérer la création d’une œuvre d’art comme une œuvre d’art?

Dans une exposition, qui de l’artiste ou de l’œuvre s’expose le plus? A quoi
s’exposent-ils d’ailleurs? Quand et où commence une exposition? Et quand se
termine-t-elle? […]

A défaut de répondre à ces questions, Mazen Kerbaj tente de les poser.
Pendant 9 jours, il s’enferme (et s’expose) dans une cage en verre dans
laquelle il travaille. Les œuvres terminées prennent place au fur et à
mesure sur les parois de la cage, permettant aux visiteurs-spectateurs de
suivre l’avancée des travaux. Au dernier soir, (pendant le
vernissage-décrochage) l’expo peut enfin commencer, et s’achever.

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DON'T FEED THE ARTIST

What is an artist’s status in society? Is he a half-god, a parasite, an
exhibitionist or a circus freak?

What kind of relation does he have to his viewers and non-viewers?
Do his pictures need to be seen for them to exist?

Is creating a work of art like a boxing fight? Who emerges the winner? Who
is the judge? What is the ring?

At an exhibition, is it the artist or the work of art exhibiting
himself/herself/itself the most? To whom are they exhibiting themselves?
When and where does an exhibition begin? And when does it end?

Far from answering such questions, Mazen Kerbaj tries at least to ask them.
For ten days he will shut himself inside a glass cage (exhibiting himself)
to work. As soon as any picture is finished, it will be hung on the walls of
the cage, allowing the viewers to follow step-by-step the evolution of the
exhibit.
On the final evening (during the preview/taking down) the exhibition can
finally begin, and finish.

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interview_journaliste

PLEASE CHECK MY FLICKR PAGE FIR SOME NEW DRAWINGS

this story 44

soon in a tobacco shop near you

for those who asked: this drawing refers to the "american spirit" tobacco brand.

SK is watching you

this drawing is about "SK Eyes", the new "brand/concept" launched by the samir kassir foundation.

a story from gaza n#3

gaza on tv

gaza - help

gaza in pieces

a story from gaza n#2

A story from Gaza

GAZA on my mind

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DRAWING IS COPYRIGHTLESS.
you are strongly encouraged to post it, print it, stick it on the walls of your city, and share it by any means with the biggest number of people you may know.

please do mention/tag/link the author or the blog (mazenkerblog.blogspot.com) when it is possible.

... في غزة في

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DRAWING IS COPYRIGHTLESS.
you are strongly encouraged to post it, print it, stick it on the walls of your city, and share it by any means with the biggest number of people you may know.

please do mention/tag/link the author or the blog (mazenkerblog.blogspot.com) when it is possible.

IN GAZA THERE IS...

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DRAWING IS COPYRIGHTLESS.
you are strongly encouraged to post it, print it, stick it on the walls of your city, and share it by any means with the biggest number of people you may know.

please do mention/tag/link the author or the blog (mazenkerblog.blogspot.com) when it is possible.

GAZA UNDER THE RAIN

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DRAWING IS COPYRIGHTLESS.
you are strongly encouraged to post it, print it, stick it on the walls of your city, and share it by any means with the biggest number of people you may know.

please do mention/tag/link the author or the blog (mazenkerblog.blogspot.com) when it is possible.

F & D

some new drawings were posted on my flicker page.
please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbaj/ to see them.

je t'aime

I love you // I love you as one would love a woman // I love you as one
would love a son // I love you as one would love a mother

I love you // I love your voice // I love when you raise your voice on me// I love when you’re silent. It’s rare that you’re silent

i love you // i love when you hug me // i love when you push me away// i love when i walk next to you, behind you, in front of you and inside you

I love you // I love your eyes// I love your eyes into my eyes // I love other people’s eyes into your eyes

I love you // I love to be in your bed // I just love being in your bed // I love forgetting that in the past i’ve been looking for others beds

I love you // And i hate you more than satan hates god, my beirut

samir 2008

june 2005

june 2008
- "fuck, i thought i was done with these idiots..."

... it's been three years they are assassinating samir

25 may / lebanon celebrates the reconciliation

bang bang
bang bang bang
bang
bang bang bang

- "how many dead and injured?"

24 may / on the plane

i am coming back to lebanon and, for the first time, i feel that i don't know where i am going...

in a slovakian cafe, sharif and i are lost

- "what do you think will happen to lebanon? is there really a reconciliation? is it possible that the country calms down a little bit after these two years?"

- "i don't know! i don't believe! i can't believe! i don't know how to believe!"

nicotine

nazdravie again and again

i am still in bratislava and i am still getting drunk

- "and the best is to come."

nazdravie!

less than an hour in bratislava, and i am already drunk...

- "to be honest, i cheated a little bit... i started drinking in the plane... and before it in the airport... and before in my house... and before..."

bratislava blues

after half an hour in the taxi (and with gipsy king) i arrived finally to bratislava...
- "somebody remove me from here."
BOMBOLEEEO, BOMBOLEEEA

i arrived in the middle of a rock concert!
- "the problem with drawing and music, is that whatever you draw, the reader can feel that the music was good..."

20 may / in the plane

i am going for 4 days to slovakia for the opening of my exhibition and a duo concert with sharif sehnaoui.

and i don't know if the beirut airport will remain open for these 4 days...

15 may / THE WAR IS OVER (hahaha)

we removed the helmet and ut it away (not very far)

- "i hope that the next time you'll put me on again, there will be some dust on me..."

drunk

i was getting drunk to forget the war, i ended up forgetting how to draw!

a nice dinner

- "today, racha went to work (in corniche el mazra'a) and evan went to school. and people are in the streets. as usual, as if nothing happened.
a war? which war?
and today we decided to go out for dinner.
in this moment, while i am drawing, i am drunk. very drunk.
between hizbollah and the "14th of march" i choose the white wine..."

- "but who do you support for real?"

- "i support the germans... and if they loose i become with brazil..."

12 may / joker

- "In july 2006 war,
we got angry and we shouted
and we got scared and we got disgusted
and we cried and we got drunk
and we stayed and we felt distress
and we insulted and we resisted
and we got nervous and... and...
and... and... and... and..."

- "These days, i am only crying."

11 may

AND ON THE FIFTH DAY

the cannons joined the dance.

10 may / tv tv tv tv and tv

- position

- and counter position

- and answer to the counter position

- and position against the answer to the counter position

- and condemnation of the position against the answer to the counter position

- "i don't understand, are we going to remove the helmets or not? 58 or 75?"

note to the foreign reader:
1958 = 3 days civil war in lebanon
1975 = 15 years civil war in lebanon