Mark Hachem Gallery is proud to present a solo exhibition by the Lebanese artist Marwan Chamaa, from October 12th till the 26th. A pioneer of Lebanese Neo Pop-Art, we can see influences of the likes of Warhol and Lichtenstein in his work, with their bold colours, layered content, and comic-style. His carefully chaotic works reflect our culture of consumerism, while simultaneously creating a sense of rawness thanks to his use of styles typically attributed to graffiti.

Born in Beirut, Marwan Chamaa’s artistic journey led him to study at institutions like the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese American University, and the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at George Washington University, and has led him to spend his adult life between Lebanon, the USA, and Germany. Throughout his career, Chamaa’s art has been a reflection of his unique perspective on the world, and his familiarity with multiple cultures has enhanced this perspective, broadening it to impact his art. He draws inspiration from his immediate surroundings and personal experiences, using the physical world itself as his muse. 

In his “Sunday in the Park with Tom” series, Marwan celebrates the beauty of life through an illustrated letter to American Pop Artist, Tom Wesselmann. This letter is written by an individual who is embarking on a new life in a foreign city, leaving behind their homeland. It’s a heartfelt letter full of color and excitement for a new beginning. 

Marwan very often integrates global brands into his artwork, employing various techniques and often drawing inspiration from other artists. The fusion of wellknown logos into this series serves to underscore the prominent economic incentives driving many to migrate. Wesselmann’s influence on Chamaa’s work is clear in “Sunday in the Park with Tom,” as Chamaa incorporates elements from the American artist’s work in some of his paintings. 

The selection of Tom Wesselmann, as an artistic muse for this series was not solely based on admiration, but also because he, too, skillfully integrated elements from other artists into his work to convey his message effectively. It’s worth noting that Wesselmann himself drew significant inspiration from Henri Matisse and Paul Gauguin.

Dear Tom:

 

I trust everything is going well on your end. Life has been a whirlwind since my move, with so much unfolding in recent months – from the economic uncertainties to the challenges of the pandemic. Amidst it all, I’ve hardly had a moment to sit and write. Now that I’m enjoying a sunny day in the park, here’s an update on what has been going on in the past weeks.

 

My first order of business upon arrival was a visit to the Apple Store, where I couldn’t resist picking up the latest iPhone, I can see you rolling your eyes while you are reading this. I know, you are not impressed, but I’ve been yearning for that multi-lens camera! I immediately put my new device to work to search for a real estate agent to secure a flat to rent, and surprisingly, I found one in record time. I bought all my furniture from IKEA, YES IKEA... I can hear your thoughts on that but I didn’t have much choice actually because all the other companies were facing supply chain issues during the pandemic.

 

Next week, DHL will be delivering the TV I snagged on sale from Amazon. I simply must have a large screen to keep up with NASA’s latest expeditions. Some habits die hard, and I still relish watching things on a grand scale. While settling in, I cracked open a Pepsi, a gift from my Russian neighbor, welcome to the United Nations of America. I’ve shared plenty of photos of my fabulous surroundings on Facebook, and surprisingly, even the haters have been hitting the ‘like’ button. 

 

I recently attended a birthday event at the modern art museum and brought along a lovely painting-by-numbers kit as a gift. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s an appropriate present. Oh, I nearly forgot to mention the mesmerizing polyptych masterpiece that graced the museum’s entrance. 

 

By the way, KFC no longer serves those skinless chicken bites you used to enjoy. Remember that Shell gas station selling Arabic-packaged Agip motor oil next to Pizza Hut? It’s gone, replaced by a vintage shop selling Pan Am, Datsun, GE, Marlboro, Kodak, and other nostalgic memorabilia. But the Michelin sign still adorns the building’s wall.

 

Tom, it’s beautiful here, you should come visit me soon.

 

Love, 

M

For more info about the artist:

Site: www.MarwanChamaa.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/marwan_chamaa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Marwan.Chamaa.Art

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marwanchamaa/my-art-work/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/marwan_chamaa 

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marwan_Chamaa