2015 » Lebanon » Section of Countries and Regions

UNDO_LATIONS

The National Section of Lebanon is an exhibition landscape that is sensitive to the audience’s movements. It features a grid of 24 hemispheres that sway to the touch of the visitor, who animates the whole pavilion as they move around. The rocking disks are covered with salt and incense, two organic materials in communion with the site. While salt – a vital, preservative mineral – gives the section a foundation, burning incense elevates the pavilion within the space. Mirroring hemispheres complement the duality, reducing the height of the surroundings through the disks and embedding neighbouring countries in the national setting.

The Lebanese section touches on the notion of fragility. The movement of the visitor within the responsive landscape alters the layers of salt, uncovering printed and engraved visuals, showing the national exhibition through a performative, rocking movement.

Designers: Cornelia Krafft, Jad Melki, Arine Aprahamian, Ghaith Abi Ghanem

Exhibiting artists / ateliers

• Cornelia Krafft

* 1972, Munich, Germany
Specialization: choreographer, set designer, costume designer, visual artist
Education: 1997-99: Painting for 3dimensional space, Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna //  1997: MA in Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna // 1992-97: Stage Design, Professor Erich Wonder, Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna
Teaching activities: September 2012-January 2015: Assistant Professor at the Department of Fine Arts and Art History (FAAH), American University of Beirut (AUB)
Awards: 2014 Selected resident international artist, April – July 2014 at MARMA Berlin, Germany
Additional information: Her work revolves around performance art, choreography and installation, as well as film, stage, and costume design. She is currently based in Beirut.
• جاد ملكي (Jad Melki)

* 1988, Beirut
Specialization: architect
Education: 2012 BA in Architecture, American University of Beirut
Awards: 2015 iF Design Award
Additional information: He won the Areen Award for Excellence in Architecture for his final-year project in 2012. He co-founded the GHAITH&JAD architecture and design studio, where he continues his spatial studies.
• أرين أبراهميان (Arine Apraghamian)

* 1990, Khodr Bek
Specialization: architect
Education: 2013 BA in Architecture with minor in Art History, American University of Beirut
Additional information: She is of Armenian origin, graduated in 2013 from the American University of Beirut with a minor in Art History and is interested in illustration and product design.
• غيث أبي غانم (Ghaith Abi Ghanem)

* 1990, Riyadh, KSA
Specialization: architect
Education: 2012 BA in Architecture, American University of Beirut
Awards: 2012 BA in Architecture, American University of Beirut
Additional information: He won the Areen Award for Excellence in Architecture for his final-year project in 2012. He co-founded the GHAITH&JAD architecture and design studio, where he continues his spatial studies.