Marwan Rechmaoui

Beirut, capital of Lebanon and the scene of unceasingly renewed conflicts, undoubtedly constitutes the cornerstone of the last works of Marwan Rechmaoui. Along his works, he exposes the extremely complex social and political geography of his city.

Beirut Caoutchouc, a gigantic map meticulously carved in black rubber shows through numerous details, the roads and the sixty districts of the city. Here, Marwan Rechmaoui highlights the socio-geographical layout of Beirut, reveals its history and the schisms which have resulted from it. With A Monument for a Living as well as with Spectre, he transforms two buildings into monuments (respectively Burj Al Murr and the Yacoubian, buildings where he once lived). These abandoned buildings stigmatize the horror of a very recent past but also the constant mutations which continuously redesign the city of Beirut.

Marwan Rechmaoui was born in Beirut in 1964. He studied Fine Arts (painting and sculpture) in the United States.

He has taken part in many exhibitions and more recently in Home Works V in Beirut (2010), "Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East" at the Saatchi Gallery in London (2009), "Disorientation" in Abu Dhabi (2009), "Art Now in Lebanon" at the Al Darat Al Funnun in Amman, Jordan (2008), but also in the 7th Sharjah Biennial in the United Arab Emirates, and the "Contemporary Arab Representations" exhibition at the Bildmuseet in Umea, the Witte de Whit in Rotterdam, the Fundaciò Antoni Tàpies in Barcelona (2002). He currently lives and works in Beirut, Lebanon.