Beiruting News

Beirut, Friday September 18, 2015 - The inauguration of the 6th edition of BEIRUT ART 
FAIR was held yesterday at BIEL, under the patronage and in the presence of Mrs. Lama 
Tammam Salam, and in the presence of H.E Minister of Culture Mr. Raymond Araiji, H.E 
Minister of Tourism Mr. Michel Pharaon, Mrs. Laure d'Hauteville, founder and director of 
the fair; the organizing members of the fair - Pascal Odille, Marine Bougaran, and Rania 
Tabbara - officials, ambassadors, and representatives of partners, sponsors, galleries, 
artists, and the media.
More than 7000 visitors attended the first day to discover 51 galleries from 19 countries 
where the artists represented all the trends of modern and contemporary art and 
expressed themselves through painting, drawing, sculpture, video, design or performance.
Mrs. Lama Tammam Salam noted that "the goal of BEIRUT ART FAIR is also the goal of 
Lebanon, because culture has a powerful economic lever." She added, "Art holds an 
important place and it continues to grow each year. Through art, we can express our core 
values such as freedom of thought and resist all forms of oppression."
This year's cultural program includes the itinerary « Virtual/Reality », curated by Pascal 
Odille, which is a journey combining reality and the virtual world. Thanks to the support of 
bankmed - the official partner of BEIRUT ART FAIR - A Path to Digital Art is highlighted 
and presented through artworks coming from different artists and backgrounds. In addition, 
the BLC Bank Design platform is showcased, dedicated to Lebanese designers. 
Photography has always played an important part in BEIRUT ART FAIR, with the renewal 
of Byblos Bank Award for Photography to encourage young Lebanese photographers 
and the exhibition of their works at the fair.
The Roundtable Program, organized with the support of HSBC Private Bank and in 
partnership with The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), involves prominent 
personalities in the art scene and includes significant topics such as financing of 
collections, operation of an international art fair, questions concerning the artist status, and 
development of documentary photography. (Check the day by day program)
BEIRUT ART FAIR team invited Brave Heart Fund association and Dar Onboz to present 
the Children's book "SAMA" within the initiatives that are supported by the fair.
According to Laure d'Hauteville, "Beirut has experienced an amazing development 
concerning contemporary art and its market, with an increase in the number of auction 
sales in the region and the opening of new galleries and art dealers. Today, our aspiration 
is that BEIRUT ART FAIR #6 amazes its visitors, creates new purposes, and enriches the 
ME.NA.SA art scene."
The 6th edition of BEIRUT ART FAIR also features the following:
 SO FAR SO CLOSE: For the first time in Lebanon, Roger Moukarzel - the 
renowned Lebanese photographer - presents the video «SO FAR SO CLOSE, SI 
LOIN SI PROCHE»
 THE CEREMONY OF SACRIFICE; Ghassan Ghazal presents a performance 
featuring a shaved and tattooed sheep named « Faro ». Through the use of 
religious symbols, the artist reveals an evolution of the status in sacrifice of the 
present context.
 PLEASE DON'T TOUCH: As part of the platform dedicated to digital art 
« Virtual/Reality », an interactive performance is carried out by Nadine Abou Zaki.
 « YOU ARE ME »: an installation by Dina Maalouf Katrib is showcased. The artist 
portrays about self-perception and emotions, by combining mirrors and sculptures.
BEIRUT ART FAIR is open until Sunday, September 20th, 2015 from 3:30 pm till 9:30 
pm.
51 GALLERIES - 19 COUNTRIES
Acquestarte (Switzerland) | Ad Galerie (France) | Albareh (Bahreïn) | Laura Arce 
Gallery By Ines Etchebarne (Argentina) | Artlab (Lebanon) | Art On 56th (Lebanon) | 
Artspace Hamra (Lebanon) | Bel Air Fine Art (Suisse/France/Italie) | Berge Panossian 
(Lebanon)| Cities design, art and lifestyle store (United Arab Emirates) | Ci Editions By 
Contemporary Istanbul (Turkey) | Cortade'art (France) | Créations By W|F (Lebanon) | 
Editions Tamyras (Lebanon) | Emmagoss Art Gallery (Lebanon) | Fadi Mogabgab 
(Lebanon) | Galerie Béatrice Du Passage (France) | Galerie Bouillon D'Art (France) | 
Galerie Epreuve D'Artiste (Art Forum Society)  (Lebanon) | Galerie Janine Rubeiz 
(Lebanon) | Galerie Mamia Bretesché (France) | Galerie Nikki Diana Marquardt - Work 
In Progress (France) | Galerie Odile Ouizeman (France)| Galerie Rauchfeld (France) | 
Galerie Tanit (Lebanon/Germany) | Galerie Vanessa Quang (France) | Golestan Gallery 
(Iran) | Hadi Maktabi Gallery (Lebanon) |  Hania Farrell (United Kingdom) | HHD Henry 
Dakak Jr (Lebanon) | ifa Gallery (China/Belgium) | Jennifer Norback Fine Art (Usa) | 
Joseph Kfoury (Lebanon) | Kappatos Gallery (Greece)| Las (Lebanon) | Mark Hachem 
Gallery (Lebanon/France/USA) | My Web'Art (China) | Nalbandian Sal (Lebanon) | Noir 
Sur Blanc (Morocco) | Q0DE (Jordan)| Renaissance Design By Randa Kuzbari 
(Lebanon) | Saccal Design House (Lebanon) | Sama (Lebanon) | Samer Kozah Gallery 
(Syria) | South Border Gallery (Lebanon)| Sud Gallery (France) | Tajalliyat Art Gallery 
(Syria/ Lebanon) | Tosh Fesh (Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia/ Lebanon) | Twentytwentyone 
(Lebanon) | Wadi Finan For Arts (Jordan) | WeDesign (Lebanon)
BEIRUT ART FAIR - KEY FIGURES
19 COUNTRIES | 51 INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES | 30 NATIONALITIES | 6 EDITIONS | 
300 ARTISTS | 1500 ARTWORKS | 29 NEW GALLERIES | 10 GALLERIES SPECIALIZED 
IN DESIGN
ABOUT BEIRUT ART FAIR
Organized by BAF Events SARL since 2010, BEIRUT ART FAIR, with a focus on the 
ME.NA.SA ART, has established itself on the regional and international art scene with its 
unique positioning and in synergy with the collectors' interests.
This region of contrasting cultures, which extends from Morocco to Indonesia, can now 
count with the presence of established artists and emerging stars in the art market.
BEIRUT ART FAIR enables to discover new artists, inspired by their heritage and their 
history turmoil, creating their artwork away from the globalization buzz, fashion trends and 
the star system.
www.beirut-art-fair.com
BEIRUT ART FAIR
@BEIRUTARTFAIR
@BEIRUTARTFAIR
#BEIRUTAF2015
Media Contact
MIRROS Communication & Media Services
Joumana Rizk: +961 1 497494 | +961 3 29 83 83 
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