A Modern Adventure: Alfred Basbous Foundation

28 January - 5 March 2020

Tabari Artspace Dubai art gallery presented the solo exhibition of Lebanese sculptor Alfred Basbous.

A visionary, Basbous played a pivotal role in the development of Modernism in the Middle East during the latter part of the twentieth century. The artist is celebrated for his pioneering approach that saw European influence translated into a new form of visual language that heavily echoes the sculptor’s native Lebanon.

 

The works on display expressed Basbous’s lifelong admiration for the human form, especially the female figure which he sought to articulate in its purest conception. Crafted from marble, stone, wood, bronze and metal the selection of works trace Basbous’s legacy that spans several decades from the 1960s until the 2000s. A selection of charcoal and preparatory drawings added background context to the sculptural works. 

 

Transforming Lebanon’s Visual Legacy - UNESCO Site
Basbous returned to Lebanon during the 1960s inspired by interactions with key names in post-war sculpture like Henry Moore and education at L'Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The artist’s plans were ambitious, he sought to transform Rachana, his native village, into an open-air museum where he would openly exhibit his work alongside offerings by other internationally respected sculptors for the public to interact with. The open-air museum remains an enriching area for the local community and has played a major role in stimulating tourism. In recognition of Basbous’s unparalleled contributions in 1997 the sculptor park was recognised as a UNESCO site.