Written by Nathalie Bsat Renowned sculptor Alfred Basbous was born in the village of Rachana in 1924, the middle of three children. He grew up in a creative environment; his father, a priest,...
ALFRED BASBOUS, Lebanon (1924 - 2006)
Bio
Written by Nathalie Bsat
Renowned sculptor Alfred Basbous was born in the village of Rachana in 1924, the middle of three children. He grew up in a creative environment; his father, a priest, illustrated Biblical manuscripts with quill and ink, and both of his brothers, Michel and Joseph, ultimately became sculptors as well. As a teenager, he worked as an assistant to his older brother, Michel, who taught him the art of carving stone. At first, Basbous found a pragmatic, practical outlet for his technical skills, taking a job as a mason at a railroad company. Still, by the 1950s, the artist had decided to pursue professionally the career of sculptor. He held his first solo exhibition in 1959 at Alecco Saab Gallery in Beirut. In 1960, he was granted a scholarship from the French government to attend the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under the sculptor Rene Collamarini. Just a year after he arrived in the French capital, he exhibited his work at the International Sculpture Exhibition at Paris’s Musée Rodin.
Basbous worked almost exclusively with stone and marble, but occasionally included wood in his carving repertoire. Although he had learned to work with plaster casts and modeling clay, the artist found himself most comfortable with a hammer and chisel, rending his sculptures from a solid block of material rather than forcing the material itself to conform to his visions. For Basbous, the stone seemed to conceal secrets that the sculptor was compelled to find: he felt called upon to extract and highlight shapes and ideas from the curves and veins of the rock. He excelled in creating fluidity from solidity, using two or three pieces of stone that worked seamlessly as one, and exploiting negative space to give his sculptures an additional sense of motion and weightlessness.
The female figure was a dominant subject in Basbous’s oeuvre. Initially, his depictions of women bore strong realistic tendencies; he often sculpted from live models, carving faces directly and with precise attention to detail. In the early stages of his career, this was perhaps less of an expressive choice than a practical one, as the artist sought to demonstrate mastery of his medium to an audience that continued to value realism. However, even his most realistic sculptures of the female figure show an inclination towards abstraction, rounding, and smoothing elements of the human body into more basic organic forms. While classical sculpture places a high premium on the integrity of skeletal structure and musculature, Basbous deprioritized these elements in his work: he focused on the skin fluidity and outer silhouette of the human shape. Gradually, his sculptures became more abstract, streamlining the female outlines to its most basic elements and drawing inspiration from these fundamental curves. By the 1980s, Basbous was creating shapes at once loosely related to and highly evocative of the female body, balancing soft curves and sharp angles to both suggest anatomical structures and subvert expectations of them. These sculptures, such as Woman (1982) emblematize the central paradox of Basbous’s oeuvre; in essence, the objects are solid, dense, and heavy, pulled to earth by a low center of gravity, yet simultaneously full of motion and life.
Like many artists before him, the Greek mythology enchanted Alfred Basbous, and especially the story of ‘Leda and the Swan.’ Leda (1986), a sculpture currently in the collection of the Dalloul Art Foundation, references the myth, in which Zeus cleverly disguises himself as a swan to access the mortal world and seduce the Spartan queen, Leda. The sculpture portrays Leda kneeling, holding her calves as she leans back on her heels; she is graceful and poised, strong enough to relax though she keeps herself tall. The swan drapes across her torso, its head resting on her chest, and she regards it with tenderness. The sense of calm given by the work is indicative of Basbous’s oeuvre at large, where the figure of the woman is closely linked to the organic, tranquil forms of nature, and the idea of romantic or erotic love is intertwined with spirituality.
Alfred Basbous passed away in 2006, leaving a prolific corpus of sculpture in his wake. The artist was posthumously awarded the “Medal of the Lebanese Order of Merit in Gold” by the President of the Lebanese Republic.
Sources
Nammour, Cesar. التجريد الواقعية و بين النحت بصبوص، ألفرد. Beirut: ش.م.م النشر و ت للاستشارا الجميلة الفنون دار 2004.
Nammour, Cesar. لبنان في النحت. Beirut: ش.م.م النشر و للاستشارات الجميلة الفنون دار 1990.
Nammour, Cesar, and Gabriela Schaub. Resonances, 82 Lebanese artists reviewed by Helen Khal. Beirut: Fine Arts Publishing, 2011.
Abillama, Nour, Marie Tomb, Tamara Zantout, and Pia Bou Khater. Art from Lebanon. Beirut, Lebanon: Wonderful Editions, 2012.
Linda Othman, "… "ألفريد بصبوص يتحدث للسياسة عن ليل باريس, Alsiyasa, Beirut, October 8, 2004, Issue 12892, Althakafiyah Sec.
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CV
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2022
Alfred Basbous: Modernist Pioneer, Sotheby's Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2018
Sensible Expression, Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2017
Alfred Basbous, Modernist Pioneer, Sophia Contemporary Gallery, London, UK
2016
الرمزية إلى التجريدية, Art Space Gallery, Dubai, UAE
تصوير تجريدي, Rachana, Lebanon & London, UK
2015
Nude d’Alfred Basbous, Ixsir Winery, Lebanon
The Bronze Collection, Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon & Paris, France
Alfred Basbous, Modernist Pioneer, Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
The Bronze Collection, Art Space Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2014
The Bronze Collection, Opera Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2013
The Bronze Collection, Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1998
Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, UAE
1998
Dubai Cultural Center, UAE
1996
SNA Building, Tabaris Beirut, Lebanon
1985
La Toile, Gallery, Rimal, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon
1984
Halate Sur Mer Garden, Halate, Lebanon
Elcir Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1982
Decoline Gallery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
One Gallery, Zalka, Lebanon
1979
Damo Gallery, Antelias, Lebanon
1972
Contact Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1970
Excelsior Hotel Garden, Beirut, Lebanon
1967
Amateur Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
Modern Institute Garden, Lebanon
1966
Phoenicia Hotel Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1965
Excelsior Hotel Garden, Beirut, Lebanon
1963
One Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
1962
Salle du Quotidien L'Orient, Beirut, Lebanon
1959
Alecco Saab Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Lebanon | Untitled: Modern & Contemporary Lebanese Art, Janet Rady Fine Art, London, UK
Beirut And The Golden Sixties: A Manifesto Of Fragility, Mathaf, Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qata
2022
Manifesto of Fragility: Beirut and The Golden Sixties, Lyon Museum of Contemporary Art, Lyon, France
2020
A Glimpse Into The Past, Galerie Tanit, Beirut, Lebanon
2017
Two Moderns from the Middle East: Reza Derakshani and Alfred Basbous, Sotheby’s, Hong Kong
Art Brussels, Sophia Contemporary Gallery, Brussels
2015
Collective Lebanese Exhibition, Lebanese Consulate NY, USA
Arab Collective Art Exhibition, Galerie Mark Hachem, Beirut, Lebanon
Bronze Collection, Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris, France
Bronze Collection, Galerie Mark Hachem, Beirut, Lebanon
2001
L’Art Libanais, Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
1998
Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, UAE
Dubai Cultural Center, UAE
Oman Gallery, Oman
1994
A sculpture displayed at Ashmoleum Museum, Oxford, UK
1993
Shroder & Asseili Gardens, London, UK
1988
Kuwait Hilton International Hotel, Kuwait
Platform International Gallery, Washington, USA
1974
Collamarini workshop at Rodin Museum in Paris, France
Biennial of Alexandria, Egypt
UENO Museum, royal museum in the city of Tokyo, Japan
1971
Halles Gallery, Paris, France
Open air exhibitions in Faubourg of Saint Honoré, Paris, France
Souk Tawile, Beirut, Lebanon
1961
Superior National School of Fine Arts, Paris, France.
Rodin Museum, Paris, France.
Sculptures in Public Spaces
2003
Public garden of Jdeidet municipality, Metn, Lebanon
1997
Garden of Zahlé Municipality, Lebanon
1992
Espace Center, Kaslik, Lebanon
1984
Halate Sur Mer Gardens, Halate, Lebanon
Public square, Tannourine, Lebanon
1981
Maison du Futur Garden, Naccache, Lebanon
Antelias city entrance, Lebanon
Zouk Mkayel Municipality gardens, Lebanon
1977
Les Jardins du Quotidien, Le Reveil, Lebanon
Jdeidet El Metn, Lebanon
Tabarja Beach garden, Tabarja, Lebanon
1973
Beirut port, Lebanon
1971
Rayfoun roundabout, Lebanon
1962
Municipality Garden, Zahlé, Lebanon
Awards and Honors
2011
The Lebanese governemt released a national stamp of Alfred Basbous and his two brothers Michel and Youssef
2005
Awarded "Commander the order of Cedar" by the President of the Lebanese Republic, Emile Lahoud, Lebanon
1994
Awarded the "Medal of the National Order of Cedar, order of Knight" by the President of the Lebanese Republic, Elias Hraoui, Lebanon
1974
Biennale laureate of Alexandria, Egypt
1965
Honorary award at the autumn fair of Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
1964
Honorary award at the autumn fair of Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
1963
Laureate of the East award, Lebanon
1961
First award at the Superior National school of Fine Arts, Paris, France
Collections
Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut, Lebanon
Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MACAM), Alita, Lebanon
Collection of the Ministry of Culture, Beirut, Lebanon
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Documents
Alfred Basbous (1924-2006): Legacy of Three Brothers Turns Lebanese Village of Rachana into a Global Center of Sculpture
Nancy Linthicum
Al Jadid, English, 2005
Essay
Cent Ans d'Art Plastique Au Liban I. One Hundred Years of Plastic Arts in Lebanon I
Chahine Gallery
Chahine Gallery/ DAF Library, English, Arabic, French, 1982
Extract from book p. 57
PARC Internationale de sculpture Rachana
Zeina Basbous
Alfred Basbous, Arabic, French, 2005
Catalog
النحت في لبنان
Cezar Nammour
Fine Arts Publishing & Printing/ DAF library, Arabic, 1990
Extract from book pp. 37, 38, 41, 43, 46, 49, 52, 53, 63, 69, 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 108-113, 120-126, 185, 192
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Press
Alfred Basbous, a career balancing form and media
Behod Negahban
dailystar.com.lb, English, 2018
ألفريد بصبوص ... رحلة نحت المشاعر و الغموض و الصدق
gheir.com, Arabic, 2013
حكاية " النحاتين الثلاثة " تترجم إلى رواية فنية في طابع بريدي
alittihad.ae, Arabic, 2011
بلدة الفن "راشانا" تفقد منحوتاتها وسط صمت الخائفين
سوسن الأبطح
aawsat.com, Arabic, 2016
Alfred Basbous: An icon of modern art
inbusiness.ae, English, 2016
Why famed artist Alfred Basbous is 'sculpted in the mind of the Lebanese'
Zayna Al Saleh
The National, English, 2019
Alfred Basbous (1924-2006): Legacy of Three Brothers Turns Lebanese Village of Rachana into a Global Center of Sculpture
Nancy Linthicum
Al Jadid, English, 2005
Alfred Basbous au paradis des sculpteurs
Zena Zalzal
L'Orient Le Jour, French, 2006
Rashana The Village of Sculptures
Elizabeth Abi-Aassi
Visitor Magazine, English, 1997
Alfred Basbous: un dialogue avec l'eternite
Zeina Basbous Helou
Mondanite, French, 2005
الفرد بصبوص يتحدث عن ليل باريس المتصل بالنهار و عن إمرأة "لم تحتمل رسميتي و لم احتمل وقاحتها"
ليندا عثمان
السياسة, Arabic, 2004
الفرد بصبوص الفطري الموهوب المجرب لم ترهبه طرق النحت الوعرة
محمد شرف
النهار, Arabic, 2006
الفرد بصبوص: النحت حب و إيمان و قليل من.. الجنون!
مارلين خليفة
النهار, Arabic, 2000
النحات ألفريد بصبوص ل"البيان": أشعر أن الزمن يطاردني و لذلك لا أنام الليل
حازم سليمان
البيان, Arabic, 1998
في سنة إعلان بيروت عاصمة ثقافية للعالم العربي الاونيسكو أعلنت راشانا عاصمة عالمية للنحت
نقولا طعمه
النهار, Arabic, 1999
Rachana: Inauguration du Musee Contemporain de la Sculpture a ciel ouvert
Nicole Malhame-Harfouche
La Revue du Liban, French, 1998
منا هراوي زارت البترون و راشانا و قلدت بصبوص وسام الأرز
الوزير اده
الأنوار, Arabic, 1992
وسام لألفرد بصبوص و مكافأت للمساهمين و ١٠ الاف دولار سنوية باسم ميشال
النهار, ARabic, 1994
محترف راشانا الدولي الثامن للنحت يختتم اليوم سيزيف و صخرته موضوع مشترك لرؤى متنوعة
لور غريب
النهار, Arabic, 2001
خمسة نحاتين اجانب في سمبوزيوم راشانا التاسع للنحت رؤى تتجاور في الصخر عناقاً أو تنافراً أو مبهمات
لور غريب
النهار, Arabic, 2002
ضجة في راشانا: متحف أم محترف؟ القرية صارت مزاراً و الفرد بصبوص ينحط المسرح و الظلام
رياض فاخوري
الأنوار, Arabic, 1994
!الفرد بصبوص في غاليري "دامو" مجنون جمال.. يخصب الحجر
ميشال معيكي
الحسناء, Arabic, 1979
!الفرد بصبوص اليوم يدحرج حجارة "راشانا" على عنق إمرأة
رياض فاخوري
الأنوار, Arabic, 1979
غيوم نحتية لالفريد بصبوص المرأة تنتظر و الجسد شكل "ميدوزي"
رياض فاخوري
Arabic, 1979
Alfred Basbous: Le langage de conscience du corps
Nohad Salameh
Le Reveil, Arabic, 1984
ألفرد بصبوص يعرض في صالة "لاتوال" رمال أشكال تبحث عن فراغها و عن تكاملها في النور
Rosanna Bou Monsef
Arabic, 1985
الفرد بصبوص: حل من الفوضى تخيم على الابداع الفني في لبنان
سمير ناصيف
الحياة, Arabic, 1993
حول معرض "الفن اللبناني" في متحف سرسق إغراء بصري و عبور مريح إلى تمثيل بدا ناقصاً
نزيه خاطر
النهار, Arabic, 2001
"Rachana, the Artists Forum"
agendaculturel.com, French, 2012
إفتتاح معرض "ألفريد بصبوص المجموعة البرونزية" الشهر المقبل
ra2ed.com, Arabic, 2014
المجموعة البرونزية.. منحوتات مقتبسة عن الإنسان
ديانا أيوب
emaratalyoum.com, Arabic, 2014
معرض الفرد بصبوص للمجموعة البرونزية في دار الأوبرا في دبي
layalina.com, Arabic, 2014
الفرد بصبوص يعرض ٢٠ منحوتة برونزية في دبي
alkhaleej.ae, Arabic, 2015
Alfred Basbous' art work show opens in Dubai
tradearabia.com, English, 2015
"الفرد بصبوص.. "رودان الشرق
ميريام سلامة
aljoumhouria.com, Arabic, 2015
معرض ألفريد بصبوص.. نحات المشاعر- اداب و فنون
أحمد بزون
tahawolat.net, Arabic, 2015
Alfred Basbous Exhibiting at Mark Hachem Gallery
beirut.com, English, 2015
Alfred Basbous exposé dans les jardins d'Ixsir
agendaculturel.com, French, 2015
Londres accueille des bronzes d'Alfred Basbous
L'Orient Le Jour, French, 2016
إفتتاح معرض لأعمال النحات الراحل ألفريد بصبوص
alaraby.co.uk, Arabic, 2016
العربية البريطانية تستقبل أعمال بصبوص: "من الرمزية إلى التجريد" و قصة حب لم تنته مع رشانا! النهار
هنادي الديري
newspaper.annahar.com, Arabic, 2016
تصوير تجيردي يسافر من بيروت إلى لندن
aljasraculture.com, Arabic, 2016
لندن تعيش "قصة عشق" ألفريد بصبوص
ريتا الجمال
lebanondebate.com, Arabic, 2016
منحوتات ألفريد بصبوص تسافر من بيروت إلى لندن
alarab.co.uk, Arabic, 2016
Alfred Basbous: Figurative to Abstraction- Part 2 My Art Guides
myartguides.com, English, 2016
Alfred Basbous' Art Work Show Opens in Dubai
eyeofriyadh.com, English, 2016
Figurative to Abstraction: Drawing and Works by the late Alfred Basbous
bbc.com, English, 2016
Lebanese artist Alfred Basbous' latest work curated in Dubai
Hershey Pascual
aeworld.com, English, 2016
معرض لأعمال الرائد ألفريد بصبوص في دبي
emaratalyoum.com, Arabic, 2016
"افتتاح معرض للنحّات اللبناني الراحل ألفريد بصبوص في دبي"
ellearabia.com, Arabic, 2016
Two Moderns from the Middle East: Reza Derakshani and Alfred Basbous
altertuemliches.at, English, 2017
Two Moderns from the Middle East: Reza Derakshani and Alfred Basbous
zolimacitymag.com, English, 2017
Alfred Basbous and the Rise of Modernist Sculpture in Lebanon
Roxane Zand
sothebys.com, English, 2017
Reprendrons-nous illico le chemin des expositions ?
ZENA ZALZAL
lorientlejour.com, French, 2020
ALFRED BASBOUS Artwork
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