Joseph MATAR
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Biography
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Born August 3rd, 1935, at Ghadir, Lebanon.
Nationality: French and Lebanese.
Schooled at the Marist Brethren, Jounieh.
Polyglot.
Art Scholarships from governments:
Madrid , 1961-1963
Paris , 1963
Rome , 1973
Paris , 1985
Practice in studios of acknowledged masters:
Omar Onsi's, 1951-1961
George Corm's, 1958-1961
Rachid Wehbe's, 1955-1957
Italian Cultural Centre, Beirut, 1955-1957
Ecole Superieure des lettres, Beirut, 1955-1957
Beirut Faculty of medicine (Anatomy), 1958-1959
Diplomas:
Diplomas of Higher Studies, Madrid University and San Fernando School of Fine Arts, 1961-1963.
Doctorate 3rd cycle, University of Paris. " Plastic arts, pictorial technology and expression."
Doctorat d' Etat 1999, Lebanese University.
Assignments:
Lebanese State instructor since 1954.
In charge of refresher courses for Lebanese art instructors in Beirut, Tripoli and Byblos state high schools, since 1965.
Instructor of Fine Arts at Holy Spirit University, Kaslik, since 1963.
Titular professor of the Lebanese University.
Chairman of the Drawing and Painting Department at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Lebanese University, 1980-1985 and 1994-1996; member of the Faculty Council.
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Statement
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Artist Statement:
I was only ten years old when the magic world of colour was first revealed to me. It came in the year 1945 with assorted Indian inks of different ranges; it was my first experience, the experience of handling this medium with its magical effects, and so my life went on...
Thanks to University, my travels, my studies, the exhibitions, the press and my friends, every day and almost every instant brought a new experience. In my profession as an artist, painting as an art and as a medium of creation knows no end. But then another element came to add itself to colour, and my life found a new focus, in the blaze of light!
Colour, light, space, time, the whole cosmos and all existence, these come together as the ultimate experience which inflames me every day in my works. I speak of days, for the nights no longer exist for me. Light fills my soul with multicoloured dreams on the road to the portals of paradise itself. It leads me to the Creator of all things, the Creator who has allowed his creatures to become in turn creators.
I speak of creation in the domain of the Fine Arts, and here I speak of painting in particular.
Every work is a poem, for art is poetry "par excellence". At every dawn I must watch the sunrise and let light flood my soul as it bathes the universe.
I am a messenger of love and of light, being one of the many children of the sun.
May the sun live long in us and show itself by the light it sends; such is my daily prayer.
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Exhibitions
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Exhibitions:
More than sixty-five personal exhibitions in Lebanon and around the world.
Works in private collections, public, religious and private corporations around the world :
France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Vatican, United States,Canada, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Abu Dabi, Irak, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Emirats, Kuwait, Cyprus and Egypt
Interviews:
Courses of artistic formation on Lebanese Television, for all students at universities and teachers' training colleges.
Radio - BBC, Voice of America, Montecarlo, France and Kuwait Radio, Radio Liban.
TV - Kuwaiti and Lebanese.
Publications by the artist concerning his work:
Several articles in the local and International press...
Several talks given in educational institutions in Lebanon and abroad...
Polycopied courses for secondary (senior high) school classes and the teachers' training college.
Teachers' book in Arabic for the Centre for pedagogic research and Development
A book about the artist's work: Peintures du Liban -Joseph Matar - Tanit Edition -1996.
Member of "Art in Context Organization" - New York - 1997
Mentioned in the book "Pioneers from Lebanon" Ed. 2000.
The work of Joseph Matar was critiqued on April 11, 2000 by Joanna Bassil (Bachelor of Arts degree, University of Quebec - Montreal, Canada).- A question of culture and formation which finds its expression in the work of Joseph Matar.
His poetry has been mentioned in "Dreams and Fantasies" part of The Silence Within series by The International Library of Poetry.
The works of Joseph Matar appear in the book "Histoire de l'art du 20eme siecle, artiste peintre Joseph Matar", Tome III, Academie Michel Angelo des beaux arts, Beirut, by Alice Atwe under the supervision of Bernard Renno.
In July 2001, his poetry was recognized by an award for outstanding achievement from the international library of poetry (Library of Congress ISBN-0-7951-5062-8).
Mentioned in the book "Arab Artists Resource Guide", an exclusive directory of Arab cultural representatives - Edition 2003.
The work of Joseph Matar was critiqued on March 6, 2003 by Jean-Maximillien de la Croix De Lafayette (Music and Art Society of America, Inc., President Emeritus), Meet Joseph Matar: The Artist who spoke to nature and unveiled its divine beauty!
The work of Joseph Matar was critiqued on April 19, 2003 by Joan Lluis Montane from the International Association of Art Critics.
Mentioned in the Art magazine "Amman"; Number 100 - October 2003.
In November 2003, his work was recognized by an award for outstanding achievement from "Said Akl Awards".
Mentioned in the magazine "Cantos Cadre" Canada; Volume 2 - Fall 2003.
Mentioned in the "Dictionnaire Drouot Cotation 2004 - Larousse Diffusion".
Member of Silence Speaks International Artist Association - January 2004.
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