Feeling Blue or Turquoise?

 The answer for Vivian Alsaegh is definitely turquoise. Vivian Alsaegh is a Syrian artist who has been affected by cyan colors especially turquoise, she has as well held an exhibition under the same title “Turquoise” at Meshwar Gallery early this year. 

Turquoise, which is a representation of serenity, similar to aquamarine that has a strong link to the color of the ocean that is connected to calm and peace. It is on the other hand a well-adjusted mixture of blue, green and yellow, an emotional balance which is well illustrated in Vivian’s artistic work since all her paintings give a feeling of serenity and stability that hide a turbulent creative spirit.

Turquoise mixtures are deeply present in AlSaegh’s paintings but always assorted with golden colors.She  has as well ,introduced new techniques regarding oil painting by muddling different textures of fabric, stone, mineral and metal, and her exceptional unexpected and innovative method of adapting those techniques to present her inner worlds. For example in one of her paintings she has used fabric and metal, then burned parts of the painting which by coincidence turned to be like the Palestinian map in the middle of of the cradle of Jesus , an unintentional metaphor that was delicately shown in this image.  

How could a small space that does not exceed 100/70 centimeters unfold such depth regarding issues mostly related to the War on Syria but not restricted to it, especially that her exhibition motto was “Let’s reassemble and restore what our hands have  ruined” of course a clear reference that we are all together as Syrians responsible in front of our homeland that has been torn by war. And her artistic work that is basically formed by assembling different materials, fabrics and techniques on one big white board is only a metaphor of  the spirit of her motto that reconstruction and rebuilding is a burden on the shoulders of all the different components of the Syrian community, all should be involved in. Therefore, through her paintings she indirectly invites her audience to take part in the rebuilding process each in his own way.

Despite the diversity of Alsaegh ‘s paintings not only on technical levels but as well as her themes and topics that are mostly related to war but always  have a glimmer of hope, predominantly coming from feminine figures that she explained as being an integrated component and an axial character in the Syrian mythology throughout different civilizations like Ishtar Goddess and Zenobia queen. However, she did not only talk of womanhood ,but as well of topics related to world creation and resurrection demonstrated by Jesus Christ  in his cradle with his holy mother as a world savior. Childhood is intensely present in her paintings chiefly in her turquoise paintings with girls with shinning faces.

The pivotal role of female in Alsaegh ‘s artistic work is a colorful expression of her faith of the main role women have in their societies and their exceptional capacity to reconstruct, rebuild, reassemble, revive themselves and others; once from wrecks,legends, or war … but always and foreverfrom life.

Report: Lama Alhassanieh