Laure Ghorayeb
I was born in Lebanon in 1931. I have done many solo exhibition as well as a dozen of group shows, across the Arab world, Europe, America and India. I received the Honorary mention at the Paris Biennale in 1967, as well as the first prize for illustration in the Alexandria Biennale in 1997.
Q & A
Most of the work featured in Rebirth Lebanon seems to have a spontaneous, reactionary feel in its expression. What prompted you to illustrate?
All the illustrations on laureghorayeb.blogspot.com were drawn to chronicle the event of the July war, as a testimony and a condemnation of the abuse and exploitation.
What sort of reactions, positive and/or negative, did your work receive upon its first diffusion?
The drawings were viewed by thousands of people completely unknown to me. 99% of the reactions were positive ones, but there were some rare israeli comments that were quite negative. Not all though.
How do you view the role held by artistic expression in Lebanon, especially in relation to the current crisis?
A lot of artists react in the spur of the moment, but for the most part they start to be active once the crisis dies down. We all follow the events, though, and we act more or less fast... but not always.
What does "Rebirth Lebanon" mean to you?
Rebirth? It's more an exit from the dark tunnel in which we are currently 'struggling'. Yes, the country will be reborn, we are certain of this. But oh so many sacrifices and lives offered on the altar of Lebanon... We believe that the country will live forever, inshallah..
http://laureghorayeb.blogspot.com/
