descriptif-liban
The project
Divided by its history and along religious lines, and set in a geopolitical region fraught with tensions, Lebanon is an attempt at living together that is under constant threat. "Crossed Pens" set out to ask Lebanese about what divides them, what unites them, and what makes them fellow citizens, despite everything.
In March 2009, with the support of the FDFA and the Swiss Embassy in Beirut, the cartoonist Chappatte invited eight Lebanese colleagues from across the political spectrum to attend a workshop. Each signed three original drawings on the topics of clans and politics, confessionalism and rules for living together. These drawings gave rise to something unprecedented – works by all the cartoonists featured together over three days in some ten Beirut newspapers, including As Safir, An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, and The Daily Star.
In addition to this strongly symbolic gesture, a vernissage and round-table discussion were held at a theatre in central Beirut, bringing together cartoonists and the public. Overcoming barriers of politics and confessionalism, a collaborative artistic event was staged in the land of the cedars.
The Swiss dimension
The Swiss public was familiarised with the complex political situation in Lebanon in June of the same year, at an exhibition at the “Morges-sous-rire” comedy festival. The four Lebanese cartoonists present – Hassan Bleibel, Saad Hajo, Stavro Jabra and Jean Machaalani – were received by Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin in Bern.
Divided by its history and along religious lines, and set in a geopolitical region fraught with tensions, Lebanon is an attempt at living together that is under constant threat. "Crossed Pens" set out to ask Lebanese about what divides them, what unites them, and what makes them fellow citizens, despite everything.
In March 2009, with the support of the FDFA and the Swiss Embassy in Beirut, the cartoonist Chappatte invited eight Lebanese colleagues from across the political spectrum to attend a workshop. Each signed three original drawings on the topics of clans and politics, confessionalism and rules for living together. These drawings gave rise to something unprecedented – works by all the cartoonists featured together over three days in some ten Beirut newspapers, including As Safir, An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, and The Daily Star.
In addition to this strongly symbolic gesture, a vernissage and round-table discussion were held at a theatre in central Beirut, bringing together cartoonists and the public. Overcoming barriers of politics and confessionalism, a collaborative artistic event was staged in the land of the cedars.
The Swiss dimension
The Swiss public was familiarised with the complex political situation in Lebanon in June of the same year, at an exhibition at the “Morges-sous-rire” comedy festival. The four Lebanese cartoonists present – Hassan Bleibel, Saad Hajo, Stavro Jabra and Jean Machaalani – were received by Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin in Bern.
dessins-liban
These are the drawings by the eight Lebanese cartoonists, published simultaneously over three days on the same page in some ten Lebanese papers. Their work evokes the grip the clans have on politics, the burden of confessionalism, the lack of environmental awareness, and the foreign influences on Lebanon – but also the pleasure of living together.
dessinateurs-liban
Diploma of Interior Design at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in 1989. Draws since 1994 for the daily An-Nahar. Homsi also publishes the weekly supplement Nahar Al Chabab and the magazine Noun. Regular exhibitions and publications abroad.
Armand Homsi
Born in 1964. Graduated in architecture from the University of Damascus. Worked until 2012 for the Lebanese newspaper Al-Mustaqbal. Exhibitions in Lebanon, the Arab world and Europe. Publications in the international press.
Hassan Bleibel
Born in 1974, studied architecture at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts in Beirut, and became famous as a graffiti and street artist. Currently working as a freelance illustrator and painter. Published in the daily An Nahar.
Benoit Debbane
Ad Diyar is a newspaper cartoonist. He said: "Even if we have bigger liberties than in other countries in the Middle East, red lines that cannot be crossed also exist in Lebanon"
Elie Saliba
Born in 1947 in Beirut. Cartoonist from the age of 20, he is still working for the newspapers Al Balad Ad-Dabbour, La Revue du Liban and The Daily Star. Published and awarded internationally, he exhibited around the world.
Stavro Jabra
Born in 1968 in Damascus. Graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts. Since 1995, he draws for the As-safir newspaper and is published in many international newspapers.
Saad Hajo
Cartoonist of the Lebanese newspaper Al-Anwar. Great figure of the Lebanese caricature, just like Pierre Sadek. He died in 2013 .
Jean Machaalani
Born in Zahle in 1938. Graduate of Fine Arts. Worked for newspapers like Al Amal, Al Anwar, An-Nahar, Ad-Diyar and Assayad magazine - which fired him for a caricature of Naser. In 1986, first cartoonist in Lebanon to draw for the evening news. Appointed Commander of the National Order of the Cedar in 2012, he died April 24, 2013.
Pierre Sadek
presse-liban
Below is a selection of newspaper articles on the "In Search of the Lebanese citizen" project:
