This artist statement explores how a childhood spent between Paris and Beirut, Lebanon, shaped one photographer and graphic designer's artistic sensibility. The paper traces the influence of growing up in a war-affected, politically turbulent country on the artist's approach to street photography — particularly a commitment to organic, unstaged moments and the use of film over digital media. The statement reflects on family, freedom, imagination, and the fleeting nature of human experience as core motivations behind a practice that seeks deeper meaning in the ordinary and overlooked.
My background and upbringing have had an indelible influence on my work and perspective as an artist. I was born in Paris in 1995 and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. This kaleidoscopic childhood made me sensitive to the arts; I now work as a graphic designer and a street life photographer on the side. More importantly, I grew up in a family of artists: I was fortunate enough to always be exposed to adults who were constantly looking for deeper meanings and were not afraid to analyze, dig deeper, and continually create. This influence shaped my path, my approach, and my perspective as an artist. I learned that there is no limit to one's viewpoint and imagination.
My upbringing influenced my aesthetics in photography, because I wanted to embrace photographing things that seemed basic, ordinary, and largely taken for granted. So much of art revolves around interpretation and what the human eye and mind can consume — such as a corner of a building or a simple local shop sign in the south of Lebanon. When I'm shooting, I constantly ask myself what the image could mean, and I am always eager to transform something that might not appear meaningful into a greater message — one that is political, architectural, or emotional at its core.
Growing up in Lebanon was such a singular experience; it gave me a feeling of sheer invincibility in my work. Lebanon is a tiny, developing country that went through over forty years of war, yet always managed to sustain and survive. It was a precarious, uncertain childhood, and at many times I did not feel free, and was unable to walk the streets of my own city because there was always the possibility that a particular place might be bombed. We were hyperaware of the delicate balance between life and death that we were always perched upon. This made us recognize how precious human life is and to treasure each moment, along with each moment of safety or happiness.
Back in 1976, during the civil war, my mother was not allowed to visit her grandmother or the rest of her family because of the shootings that were constantly happening in the neighborhood. Politics and corruption took our freedom and rights, but forced me to realize that I am in control of my imagination. I have the power to go as far as it can take me when it comes to my art, and for that reason I never force myself to exist within limits. I am extremely sensitive and I find beauty in so many different things: objects, buildings, humans — anything at all, really. However, I try to embrace spontaneity as much as possible, particularly when it comes to photography. I am very resistant to staging photographs because of the inherent beauty I see in organic moments, as they are so fleeting. I therefore always try to give my photographs a sense of meaning in both time and space.
"Film's authenticity and connection to fleeting moments"
You’re 82% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 1 section.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.