Meet Reem Rashash-Shaaban | Mixed Media Artist and Writer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Reem Rashash-Shaaban and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Reem, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk taking is an essential part of life. If you do not try something, you will never know what you could have had. I have always been a risk taker. I have never been afraid to try new things and take on new projects. Perhaps the biggest risk I took was changing careers. After being an educator for over thirty years, I decided to pursue a career in mixed media art. I wanted to visually express my poetry, writing and thoughts using a variety of mediums: photography, paint, collage, ink, etc. I took courses to hone my skills and then proceeded to prepare for exhibitions. In the past seven years, I have had four solo exhibits, participated in two joint exhibits and had my artwork published in literary magazines. Every day, I discover new aspects of myself while writing, painting and drawing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think my art is unique in that you can’t really tell it is the same person who is behind the works. I have different styles: mixed media (including my original photography and writing at times), ink and watercolor sketches, and abstracts. The reason I have so many styles is that I like to take risks and experiment with my art. In my mixed media work, I reimagine places that might make people look at their cities and surroundings differently. There are several elements and layers, and people might not notice the intricate work at first glance. They will need to observe it for a while to see what was done.

My sketches capture moments in time, or places that might not exist much longer (especially those in Lebanon). My abstract paintings are distinctive in that I use a completely different set of media.

The thing that I’m most proud about is that my work gets people to recall images of the vernacular landscape that no longer exists and that it got people to start talking about Lebanon’s loss of identity. Other pieces of my art document incidents. Faces of the Revolution is a collection of ink and watercolor sketches that was done during the October 17th revolution of 2019 in Beirut , Lebanon . My After the Explosion expresses my feelings after the terrible explosion that occurred on August 4th, 2020.

Perhaps my biggest challenge was establishing myself as an artist after being an educator for so long. To do that I worked on four solo exhibits: three in mixed media and one in ink and watercolor. Since my poetry and fiction is published in literary journals, I noticed that there were calls for art submissions. I started submitting my artwork to literary magazines (online and print) and managed to get two magazine covers in addition to publications in international literary journals.

I find that expressing myself visually is easier than expressing myself in words. I feel a freedom in art that I do not feel as much while writing. I let my emotions do the talking and I have learned that it is okay to change styles because I am learning more about myself. I think of myself as an eternal student. I used to learn things from my students when I taught at university, and now I learn a lot from capturing the world around me. I am hoping to get a bigger online presence and hopefully make my art available to different audiences.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting Lebanon, I would introduce them to its history, people, food, and places. I would start with a walking tour of Ras Beirut (the cultural heart of the city characterized by plurality and diversity), making sure they see Hamra Street which was famous for its cinemas, cafes, fine dining, and chic atmosphere, pointing out all the changes that have occurred since the war. I would then take them for a visit to the American University of Beirut (AUB)which is over 150 years old, and a green haven inside the concrete city. At AUB, I would take them on a tour of upper and lower campus and visit the museum, which would give them a quick overview of Lebanese history. Then we would have lunch at one of the outdoor cafes or the famous Socrates Restaurant that serves home cooked food in addition to Lebanese mezza (a variety of appetizers) and arak (a transparent alcoholic drink which turns white once you add water to it). One afternoon or evening, I would take them downtown so they can see how it was rebuilt after the civil war. I would also show them some of the ruins which were recently discovered there. No downtown tour would be complete without visiting the famous Martyr’s Square, a place where many Lebanese people peacefully protested, holding Lebanese flags.

Other famous spots on the itinerary would be visiting cities in the North of Lebanon such as Byblos, one of the oldest cities of the world. On the way to Byblos, we would stop by the Jeitta Grotto, which was nominated to become one of the wonders of the world. Another important city up north is Tripoli, famous for its old souks, the citadel, and desserts like halewet el jibin. Then we would venture inland and make our way to the Bekaa valley to visit the Roman temples of Baalbek and Anjar, stopping by Shtoura or Zahleh to have traditional Lebanese breakfasts. On the way to the Bekaa valley are mountain retreats of Alley, Bhamdoun, and Sofar, where all Beirutis spent their summers to escape the heat of the city.

Then we would head south to the cities of Sidon and Tyre to visit Crusader castles, the Roman ruins and Hippodrome, take a dip in the sea, and eat Siniora ( a dessert famous in Sidon) while walking in the souks.

The next morning, we could visit the National Museum and have dinner in Ashrafieh, Gemmayze or Mar Mekhail where my friend could see the beautiful historical houses of Beirut.

We could also hit popular night spots after we spend some time in a café by the sea, watching the sun set over Pigeon Rock.

Before they leave I would take my friends to L’Artisan du Liban where they can buy handmade gifts to take home. Last but not least, I would take them to my favorite cafes: Dar el Wardieh, B.Hive and Beit Amir where they could sit in a garden sipping all kinds of coffee ranging from Lebanese/Turkish coffee to Drip American coffee.

Unfortunately, now Lebanon is collapsing. No electricity, no medicine, and no water . It is not the best time to visit, but I promise you, I will show you all these places in my artwork, and one day when Lebanon rises again, I will take you there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe my success to my family, mainly my husband and children who have always supported and encouraged me.

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