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 Victor
Haddad
I-Biography:
1935. Victor Boulos Haddad, born 1st June 1935,
at Ghazir, Lebanon.
1954
- 1957. Professor of Art, College of the Apostles, Jounieh.
1955.
Instilled with a love for musical theatre, he wrote and directed
his first play “Lea MArins.
1956.
Participated in UNESCO's International Childhood Congregation, Lebanon.
1958
- 1962. Awarded a scholarship by the Spanish government
to study at the San Fernanda University of Fine Arts, Madrid.
1962.
Inspired by a love for his homeland, he wrote and directed his second
play entitled «La Ville n’est pas pour Les Gitans».
1963
- 1960. Returned to Lebanon to continue teaching at the
College of the Apostles, Jounieh.
1964.
Adapted and directed for the theatre Antoine de St.Exupery's novel
ale Petit Prince".
1970.
Having previously studied the techniques of stained glass design
and manufacture, he created and had installed his first windows
in St. Stephen's Church, Batroun.
1974.
Designed and created a further 12 stained glass panels
for the chapel of the Sisters of Charity, Zouk.
1982.
Traveled to Paris to collaborate with the artist Philip Andrieux,
President du Syndicat de Verriers de France, on the design and execution
of the stained glass windows for St. Teckle's Church, Southern Lebanon.
1991.
Commenced his research into Lebanon; Land of Phoenician
History, encompassing the various and varied civilizations that
have occupied the country of his birth. 6,000 years of Roman, Greek,
Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Crusader and Arab history, together
with their distinct architectural styles, inspired him too develop
the highly personalized style for which he is today renowned.
1995.
Nominated by the Lebanese Government to decorate the official residence
of the President of the Chamber of Deputies, which subsequently
acquired 11 of his paintings for the palace collection.
1996.
Engaged by H.E. Sheikh Khaled Bin Saqr el Kasimi, governor of Ras
el Khayma, United Arab Emirates, to decorate the governor’s palace
including the acquisition of 20 paintings fox the palace collection.
2000.
Selected by the Minister of Culture to represent Lebanon during
“Culture Week” at the Culture Foundation, Abu Dhabi.
Invited to membership of the Lebanese Artists Association of Painters
& Sculptors and membership to the International Association
of Art, UNESCO.
2001.
Honoured by the Lebanese Culture Club of “La Jaconde” with “Best
Artist of the Year 2001”.
2002.
Published his first book “Lebanon Through The Agee” consisting of
53 paintings depicting the mythology in which his country is steeped.
Awarded with a Letter of Commendation by H.E. Emile Lahoud, President
of the Republic of Lebanon.
Further awarded by H.E. Mr. Rafc Hariri, Prime Minister.
2003.
Honored by the Lebanese Movement Culture (Antelias).
Throughout his
professional career, Victor Haddad has been considered one of his
country's finest artists with his work the subject of debate by
art critics both at home and abroad. In his role as a member of
the Lebanese Artists Association of Painters & Sculptors, he
continues to contribute to the Lebanon’s artistic fabric by organizing
and participating in numerous national and international art symposiums.
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Julia
Mamaea (126 x 96 cm, Oil on Canvas) - One
of Haddad's masterpieces.
In
1839, the U.S. Frigate “Constitution”, sailed into the harbors
of Beirut. On board where Commodore Jesse D. Elliot and his
officers, amateur archaeologists. They went to work and in
no time unearthed two sculptured sarcophagi of imported Preconnesian
marble buried side by side.
One
sarcophagus bore an inscription to Julia Mamaea mother of
Alexander Severus. They placed them on board the frigate and
took them back to U.S.A as Commodore Elliot thought it proper
and fitting to offer the emperor’s sarcophagus to General
Andrews Jackson, The president of United States 1828-1836,
as his last resting place…
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II-
AN ARRAY OF LEGENDS MAKING HISTORY AND ITS SYMBOLS
From the light
of the Orient, legends were born. From the ethereal Orient, lime
became torrents of symbols and figures. From its brightness, memory
revived a History mull of mythologies, glory, exploits, knowledge
and love.
Victor Haddad discovered the past indeed through that torrent of
light... the light of the prophets... the commandments of God...
and the land of Canaan. He dealt with its science, civilizations,
architecture and parables, after having spent years in understanding
it.
On his canvas, lie revived the glamour of ancient Lebanon. lie depicted
its science and poetry, architecture and figures, not with letters,
but with ethereal colors, transparent lines and melted forms.
Coastal towns... Beirut, Sidon, Tyre, Byblos, Tripoli, Baalbeck...
The brush absorbs History and draws allegories, epics, Iliads. Life
and death are at the core of the legends and symbols surrounding
them and nesting in their curves. They become more surrealistic
and so very familiar to who followed History from Phoenician era
to Islamic conquest, through civilizations that colonized the coast,
the mountains and the plain, and built on it buried monuments as
well as a language and a heritage that are still engraved on the
rock... on the coins.
The rich knowledge of Lebanon's ancient History, the deep grasp
of its architecture, the passion for its myths, the intervention
of Gods in fertilizing life and creating a symbiosis between man
and nature: all this made Victor Haddad employ his unique art in
delivering grand work. His paintings immortalize History... epic
reality, allegories stemming from harmony between Gods and men,
between life and death,... love, transcendence of earthly considerations
so that man becomes a semi god capable of overcoming obstacles and
defeating destiny.
One of his paintings
depicts Cadmus holding the Phoenician alphabet under his arms, while
surrounded by legendary symbols. We take pleasure in reading the
legend: Cadmus searching for his sister Europe who was kidnapped
including Cadmus, went round the world and founded cities where
they disseminated science, civilization and language.
Another one of his works is the triad of Adonis and Ashtarout: life,
nature and death. Distinguished colors reflect the subject, hence
they tend to be dark red when Adonis dies and resuscitates in the
shape of an anemone.
The artist transcended the legend and widened its horizons. He insisted
on reality through architecture. He gave back to Beirut its seven
gates... Its glory. The background of his paintings reflects a city
we have always dreamt of, a city with columns, engravings and mosaics.
Glorious Baalbeck and its historic stairs became a dance floor.
His style is a mixture of surrealism, cubic lines and artistic engravings.
The more he touches to modem History, the more myths open the way
to culture engraved on the rock; multiple eras appear .in the painting
of Sidon, that is a mixture of Greek, Roman, Phoenician, Assyrian
and Arab styles.
Victor Haddad portrayed Lebanon's History, its art, science, culture
and architecture. His style is cereminial, whether in colors, mosaics
or engravings... and especially in bringing to life the ancient
mythological man with his misery, beauty, youth, life, death and
resurrection.
May Menassa, Art Critic (translation)
III-Articles:
(In French)
...Et le Liban nous est conté -Liban
et sa Mythologie- Liban est ses Dieux,
de l'amour ou du soleil.
Avec une technique Scrupuleusement artistique, si nécessaire pour
nous donner le maximum de précision au contenu extraordinaire de
ses tableaux, fruit d'un travail acharné, Victor Haddad nous emmène
à travers les âges.
Sonia Nigolian
Victor Haddad aborde les rivages du mythe et du fantastique dans
un grand
mouvement de transparence; ses couleurs sont celles d'un rêve Oriental
où la femme est le centre de sa création
L'Orient-le Jour
The items of
information are taken from the book "Victor Haddad - Lebanon
Through the Ages in Fifty Three Paintings", 1st edition 2002,
trilingual English - French - Arabic, 142 pages, Size: 31 x 24.5
cm. If you are interested to own a book, please contact the artist.
Order
the Book Here
►►
Some of the artist's artwork
►► Meet the artist in Art Direct Sale!
Contact:
vbhaddad@yahoo.com
Artist Victor Haddad: Tel: +961 3 782261 // 9 915369
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