ARTWORKS
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Marwan Sahmarani
NIDHI KHURANA
In this episode during a visit to his Beirut studio, Marwan Sahmarani discusses with Founder Tamara Chalabi his artistic practice; what and who inspires him; […]
Only my grandmother gave me a nickname: Mirwan, she didn’t like Marwan. But generally, I am Marwan.
On the surface.
Coffee. I love making my Turkish coffee in the morning at the studio.
Havana.
Maybe right now: ‘The Death of Sardanapalus‘ by Eugene Delacroix.
I have a favourite director: Stanley Kubrick.
Two: Rimbaud’ ‘La saison d’enfer‘ was key for me as an adolescent and Georges Batailles’s ‘Les Larmes d’Eros‘.
Freedom.
Rem Koolhaas’ library in Qatar.
What i see with my eyes in the present or in the past.
The most unique: the horizon looking out at the sea. I always wondered what was beyond it as a child.
No favourite object, but I know what is the one I hate the most: my phone.
You are doing good enough.
Go to the studio and sit until I unblock.
I don’t have one. When there is no yellow, I love Blue.
The Paintbrush.
Messy. Getting better with age in making it tidy.
I knew I would become an artist at 3 years old. I drew, I looked at artbooks. It was my vocation.
To be free.
I take risks every time I work. But I did one performance by hanging myself from my feet during an ArtDubai event some years ago. I felt sick for 2 days. Performance is outside my passion.
DÉJÀ VU.
Messy, violent, bold.
Every painting is an achievement. It is always the best until the next painting.
I don’t like to collaborate in painting, but I would love to be exhibited with Baselitz or Cecily Brown, or Anselm Kiefer or Barcelo or Dana Schutz.
A large public institution like Tate Modern in London or MOMA in NY.