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culture culture

for me to tell you how and why. There is no of seeing the glass half empty or half full.
driving force, nor are there any plans. It all A friend, Noha Baz, a Lebanese paediatric
comes to me when I’m there with my brushes, doctor and writer, called her autobiography Il
canvas and tubes. n’y a pas de honte à préférer le bonheur (There
Is No Shame in Pefering Happiness). I think
Who are your favourite painters, styles? What she is right, for in life you have the choice of
are your favourite museums? seeing the positive side or the negative. I try to
Personally, I think artwork has to touch you, to choose the positive one.
create an emotion either good or bad. For me
that’s how it works. When it comes to painters If you were to paint today, what exactly would
it’s a matter of taste, and also mood. One day you paint, what colours would you use?
you can be thrilled by a Matisse, another day Another very difficult question. Inspiration
it might be something completely different. comes and goes. It’s impossible for me to say
I like the classics such a Monet, Van Gogh, what I would paint, or which colours I would
Miro, Chagall, and many, many others. use until I start to paint.

When it comes to the museums, there are so You have been interviewing so many people.
many interesting places to visit – either it’s in What were the most significant episodes or
New York, Paris, London or Geneva. I have not meetings or interviews that impressed you?
had a chance to visit the Hermitage in Saint I am and have been very lucky to meet a lot
Petersburg, which is must be a marvellous of people from all over the world. They have
one, but I was very lucky to visit the Salvinsky all taught me something, about their lives,
Museum in Nukus, in Uzbekistan, with their about their professions, their conceptions
unique collection of avant-garde Russian of life. I like people, and there are so many
paintings. It was a wonderful museum, and interesting people out there who do so many
thanks to Mr Salvinsky and his passion for art, interesting and positive things. These are the
art history had to be rewritten. people I like to meet, the people I feature in
Diva.
What message are you trying to convey talking to one another and looking out for
through your paintings? Why those colours, Who is for you an example to follow? As a each other.
to have found another way to express myself. why those abstracts – is it how you see the person, as a leader, as a writer, as a journalist
current situation? or as a painter? Do you have dreams that you would like to
Do you plan to have an exhibition here – art You are asking very difficult questions, Personally, I get inspired of the people who do make true – to achieve through the magazine,
exhibition? You have magnificent paintings. The and I can only cite Jean Cocteau: an artist good to others, the unsung heroes. They might through the paintings, books, or through any
current situation makes long-term planning cannot speak about her/his art any more not be in the public eye, but they are there other forms?
quite difficult. I will participate in a joint exhibit than a plant can discuss horticulture. every day taking care of others, stretching out As any other human being, I have dreams “We have now
in Paris shortly with mainly Lebanese and Arab a hand to those who need it. about a better world where people can live in
artists. The exhibition is entitled Beirut for ever. What I want to convey through my harmony and peace with each other. gone through a
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(Galerie Terrain Vagh, 24 Rue des Fossés Saint- - paintings is what Wassily Kandinsky We have now gone through a historical historical and

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“Lend your Bernard, 75005 Paris). . once said: “Lend your ears to music, and completely surrealistic period during What are your plans for future? completely
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ears to open your eyes to painting, and... stop this pandemic, and I think it’s been an After having finished answering all your surrealistic
music, open You use a rich palette of colours, playing so thinking! Just ask yourself whether the awakening period for many people. What questions, my immediate future plan is to period during
your eyes easily with them as a true magician, and you work has enabled you to ’walk about’ do we realise? That we need each other, that go and steal chocolate in a friend’s office. He this pandemic,
to painting, are so much at ease with different painting into a hitherto unknown world. If the we need solidarity and that at the end of the always has a box of chocolate on his table, so and I think it’s
and... stop styles. Where does your inspiration come from answer is yes, what more do you want?” day, there is no difference between rich and one day when he was out, I knocked on his been an
poor, between the important people and the door and “borrowed” one or perhaps two.
– your travels, events in life? What exactly is
thinking!” your driving force for the paintings? Are you optimistic by nature? Do you believe “common mortals”. I later confessed my crime, and now I have awakening
Thanks a lot for your kind words. We are in the “light at the end of the tunnel”, and if the authorisation, and my nickname is “the period for
surrounded by colours, and we are lucky so, how do you see it? The COVID pandemic has shown us that we chocolate thief”. Now, I even suspect that he many people.”
to live in a region where the colours change You are indeed very clever at asking difficult are all the same. So, I think what we could is always making sure that he has enough
according to the seasons. I presume I was born questions. Life consists of ups and downs for do is simply be more there for one another, chocolate in case I drop by… ••
with this rich palette of colours. It’s impossible everybody, and we always have the choice stretching out a hand to our neighbours,
w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h