Alfred Basbous was born in 1924 in Rachana, Lebanon (close to the historic city of Byblos). He was a central figure in the development and advancement of Modernism in the Middle East during the latter part of the twentieth century. He was the organiser of the first symposium in Lebanon and the region. From 1994 to 2004, international sculptors were invited to exhibit work, though transforming Rachana, into an open-air museum. In recognition of Basbous’s unparalleled contributions, the sculpture park was recognised as a UNESCO site, in 1997. Basbous has a legacy rooted in cultural exchange with significant European sculptors from his tutor at École Nationale des Beaux-Arts of Paris, René Collamarini to his encounters with Henry Moore.
Figurative to Abstraction reveals Basbous’ exploration of the relationship between form and material, alongside a preparatory drawing revealing his approach to sculpture.
The Alfred Basbous Foundation committee, faithful to the sculptor's positivity and desire for the preservation of beauty and freedoms, chose to release a focused selection that demonstrates Basbous's artistic aesthetic, with the diverse mediums used in the process of exploring the most beautiful form and shape. Alongside a preparatory drawing, the selected works reveal research into shapes, lines and materiality from wood to metal, offering a glimpse into what will be shown in the foundation in the new season.
