User:Maroun Hakim/sandbox

For more than fourty five years now, Maroun El Hakim has been working in painting and sculpting with the same natural ease and more importantly with the same love.

He is neither a painter only nor a sculptor only, he is both. His relationship with Nature, his homeland Lebanon, his village Mazraat Yachouh, color and with stone or wood are all vital to a flux of creative work that is in a continuous evolution.

He never stops experimenting in textures or in mediums of expression whether acrylic, watercolor, oil, pastel or gouache, breathing into them the richness and passionate variations of his soul and spirit.

Maroun never forgets his sculptor talent in the game of lines and virtual volumes as he periodically shifts to Lebanese stone, white marble, or wood.

He currently is fully dedicated to his art, spending most of his time creating at his “Atelier du Bonheur” in his hometown Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon.

Life and work
Born in Mazraat Yachouh (North Metn), Lebanon on May 16, 1950

- Father: Youssef Sleiman El Hakim (1907- 1994)

- Mother: Nabiha Semaan Kassis (1911- 1990)

- Siblings: Mary, Assaad, Therese, Mansour, Nabih, Salwa, Sleiman, Semaan, Chaker and Dr Bahzad

- Married on June 18, 1983, Samar Nicolas Nahed. Samar has a PHD in French Literature, is a poet, an art critic and a university professor. She has many poetry works in both Arabic and French languages, as well as a French book comparing Lebanese Francophone poetry to Lebanese Fine Arts in both painting and sculpting. It was published by l’Harmattan, Paris.

Children:
- Samah, Master’s degree of Graphic Design. Teaches at USEK and the Lebanese University.

- Mirab, priest at the Antelias Diocese, Lebanon. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Theology and Philosophy and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration.

- Nicola, Master’s degree of Marketing and Advertising. He is also a drummer and percussionist.

Studies:
- Elementary: Sisters of the Holy Family School and Mazraat Yachouh Public School.

- Middle School: Our Lady of Tamish School and Antelias Intermediate Public School.

- High School: The Teachers’ School, Jounieh. Lebanese Baccalaureate through free study.

- University: Diploma of Postgraduate Education in Painting and Drawing from The Institute of Fine Arts Lebanese University, Beirut, 1975

- Master of Arts in Ceramics, Rome, 1976

Syndicates and Associations:
- President of The Lebanese Artists Association for Painters and Sculptors, 1998 - 2000.

- Founder of the Lebanese Fine Artists Syndicate, 2002.

- First president of Lebanese Fine Artists Syndicate, 2002 - 2009.

- Co-Founder of the Fine-Arts Alumni, Lebanese University with Nicolas Nassif and Alexander Berkhiya.

- Founder of Aley Syposium for Sculpture in collaboration with Aley Municipality, August 1999, Lebanon.

He held the following group exhibitions:

- UNESCO, Beirut

- Beirut Art Center, Beirut

- Abchi Hotel, Ehden, Lebanon

- Tripoli

- Cultural Movement in Tyre, Lebanon

- Mazraat El Chouf, Lebanon

Elementary and Middle School:
* Mazraat Yachouh Public School from 1971 till 1975 (Math, Civics, Arabic and Drawing)

High School:
* The Teachers’ and Teachers’ School in Rabat- Morocco from 1977 till 1978 (Drawing)

* The Central School- Art Institute from 1978 till 1980 (Drawing and Sculpting)

* The Teachers’ and Teachers’ School- Sad El Bauchrieh from 1978 till 1980 (Drawing and Sculpting)

University:
* Holy Spirit University- Faculty of Fine Arts 1980- 1986 (Drawing and Sculpting)

* Lebanese University Establishment- Institute of Fine Arts 1979- 2014 (Theater, Architecture, Interior Design, Drawing and Photography)

* He was the head of the Plastic Arts Department at the Institute of Fine Arts (Second Branch) at the Lebanese University between 1986 and 2014

* He contributed in the L.M.D Programs at the Institute of Fine Arts - Plastic Arts Major between 2004 and 2014

* He has earned a Professor rank (the highest academic rank at the Lebanese University) in 2002

Publications
He published a book entitled “Rearview Mirrors” in 2013. This book represents a self-reflection on what happens behind the scenes in both life and art, through a language combining techniques, emotions, thoughts and reflections that are inevitable in providing insights into the secrets and mysteries that constitute the work of art, and that can be extremely hard for the recipient to reach through the paintings and sculptures themselves.

Most Important Monuments in Public and Private Institutions, as well as Public Gardens:
1980: Two murals and a sculpture in the public garden of Zouk Mikael, Lebanon

1996: Sculptural monument on the 100 th anniversary of the water department, Dbayeh, Lebanon

2002: Terracotta mural at Mar Nohra Church, Qornet El Hamra, Lebanon

2007: Altar and wooden sculpture at the church of The Sisters of the Holy Family School, Fanar, Lebanon

2008: Bronze statue of the Patriarch Daniel Al-Hadchiti, Hammana, Lebanon

2008: “The Land of Peace” monumental sculpture from Lebanese stone, Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon

2014: Two oil paintings of Saint Charbel and Saint John Paul II, Mar Abda Church, Bikfaya, Lebanon

1992: Creator of the trophy “Phoenix de la Pub”

1999: Creator of the trophy of Aley Sculpture Symposium

2000: Creator of the poster of the fourth-annual anniversary of the Qana massacre

2008: Creator of Holcim Lebanon’s trophy

2011: Creator of the “Special Man” trophy for Casino Du Liban

He has a plethora of painted and sculpted artistic works at the Ministry of Culture, Qana Museum, Museum of the Art of Fine Arts; also, with art collectors, relatives and friends in Lebanon, Morocco, Canada, France, United States, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Syria, etc.

Individual Exhibitions
1977: Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Rabat, Morocco | Painting

1978: Damo Gallery, Antelias, Lebanon | Painting and Sculpture

1979: Damo Gallery, Antelias, Lebanon | Sculpted Painting

1980: Damo Gallery, Antelias, Lebanon | Sculpture

1982: Trait-d’Union Gallery, Maisons Fleuries, Achrafieh, Lebanon | Painting

1983: Trait-d’Union Gallery, Maisons Fleuries, Achrafieh, Lebanon | Sculpture

1984: Chahine Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon | Painting

1985: La Toile Gallery, Rimal, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon | Sculpture

1986: La Toile Gallery, Rimal, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon | Modeled Canvas and Sculpture

1987: La Toile Gallery, Rimal, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon | Sculpture

1988: Alwane Gallery, Kaslik, Lebanon | Painting

1990: Le Voyageur Gallery, Paris, France | Painting

1991: International Art Center, Zalka, Lebanon | Sculpture

1992: International Art Center, Zalka, Lebanon | Mixed Media

1993: Galerie d’Art Bekhazi, Achrafieh, Lebanon | Sculpture

1994: Station des Arts, Badaro, Lebanon | Painting

1995: Pera Azzam, Sin-El-Fil, Lebanon | Choice of Artworks

1996: Noah’s Ark Gallery, Zalka, Lebanon | Modeled Canvas

1997: Caves de France, Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon | Painting

1998: Epreuve d’Artiste Gallery, Achrafieh, Lebanon | Sculpture

1999: Epreuve d’Artiste Gallery, Achrafieh, Lebanon | Painting

2000: City Café, Beirut, Lebanon | Choice of Artworks - Painting

2001: Epreuve d’Artiste Gallery, Achrafieh | Painting

2002: Epreuve d’Artiste Gallery, Achrafieh | Sculpture

2004: Association of the Friends of the Georges Khairallah, Mtein, Lebanon | Retrospective Exhibition

2004: Holiday Beach, Nahr El Kalb, Lebanon | Retrospective Exhibition

2006: Balamand University, Koura, Lebanon | Choice of Artworks 1990-2006 – Painting and Sculpture

2008: Atelier du Bonheur, Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon | Painting and Sculpture

2009: Atelier du Bonheur, Mazraat Yachouh | Assemblage and Mixed Media

2011: Saraya Al Fann, Bikfaya | Retrospective Exhibition

2011: Galerie Surface Libre, Jal El Dib | Painting

2014: Atelier du Bonheur, Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon | Painting, Assemblage and Mixed Media

2015: Art Space Gallery, Hamra, Lebanon | Painting

2018: Atelier du Bonheur, Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon | Painting and Sculpture

Collective Exhibitions
1971: Salon du Printemps, UNESCO, Beirut, Lebanon

1974: Salon d’Automne, Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon

1975: Ministry of Tourism, Beirut, Lebanon

1975: Salon du Printemps, UNESCO, Beirut, Lebanon

1975: Ancient Souk, Byblos, Lebanon

1977: Damo Gallery, Saint Charbel Exhibition, Antelias, Lebanon

1978: Smugglers Inn, Beirut, Lebanon

1979: Institute of Fine Arts, Lebanese University, Branch II, Beirut, Lebanon

1980: Faculty of Fine Arts, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon

1980: Institute of Fine Arts, Lebanese University, Branch II, Beirut, Lebanon

1980: « One Hundred Years of Fine Arts in », Chahine Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

1981: Institute of Fine Arts, Lebanese University, Branch II, Beirut, Lebanon

1981: G.A.B. Center, Espace 2000, Zouk Mikael, Lebanon

1982: Faculty of Fine Arts, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon

1982: Salon d’Automne, Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon

1982: Institute of Fine Arts, Lebanese University, Branch II, Beirut, Lebanon

1982: Gallery One, Zalka, Lebanon

1982: BUC, Beirut, Lebanon

1982: Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA), Sin El Fil, Lebanon

1983: Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

1983: Institute of Fine Arts, Lebanese University, Branch II, Beirut, Lebanon

1986: Cultural Council of North, Zalka, Lebanon

1987: Artists of North Metn, St. Elie Centre, Antelias, Lebanon

1987: Les Cimaises Gallery, Nahr El Kalb, Lebanon

1987: Epreuve d’Artiste Gallery, Kaslik, Lebanon

1988: Second Biennale of Baghdad, Iraq

1989: Faculty of Fine Arts, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon

1989: 3M Gallery, Zalka, Lebanon

1991: Naaman Gallery, Jounieh, Lebanon

1991: Founoun Gallery, Adma, Lebanon

1991: 1 st Cultural Festival, Montreal, Canada

1991: Lebanese Painters and Sculptors Artists Association, Beirut, Lebanon

1992: International College Art Festival, Beirut, Lebanon

1992: Faculty of Fine Arts, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon

1993: Arab Society for Fine Arts, Beirut, Lebanon / Kuwait, Kuwait

1993: Apostrophe Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

1993: Le Modèle Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

1994: Fine Arts Syndicate, Damascus and Aleppo, Syria

1994: Faculty of Fine Arts, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon

1995: Regency Hotel, Bahrein

1995: Al Majliss Gallery, Dubai

1995: Sharjah Biennale, UAE

1995: Rencontre Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

1996: World of Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon and Jeddah, KSA

1996: Lebanese Embassy, Kuwait, Kuwait

1997: Arab Society of Fine Arts, Bahrain

1998: Homage to Gibran, Gibran Museum, Bcharreh, Lebanon

1998: International College Art Festival, Beirut, Lebanon

1998: Faculty of Fine Arts, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon

1998: Opera House, Cairo, Egypt

1998: Cultural Movement in Lebanon, Tyre, Lebanon

1999: Faculty of Fine Arts, USEK, Kaslik, Lebanon

1999: Expo FIAD, Beirut Hall, Sin El Fil, Lebanon

2000: Lebanese Embassy in Jordan

2001: Sader Gallery, Art and Culture, Sed El Bauchrieh, Lebanon

2002: Europ’Art International Art Fair, Geneva, Switzerland

2003: Lebanese Sculpture Exhibition, UNESCO Palace, Beirut, Lebanon

2003: International College Art Festival, Beirut, Lebanon

2004: Assafir Newspaper 30 th Anniversary Exhibition, BIEL, Beirut, Lebanon

2005: Iran Biennale, Tehran, Iran

2006: Lebanese-Latvian Exhibition, UNESCO Palace, Beirut, Lebanon

2006: Asian Visual Art Exhibition, Doha, Qatar

2007: Golden Jubilee of the Lebanese Artists Association, UNESCO Palace, Beirut, Lebanon

2007: Algiers, Capital of Arab Culture, (exhibiting with the Lebanese Ministry of Culture), Algeria

2010: Lebanese Painters &amp;amp; Sculptors Artists Association, Beirut, Lebanon

2014: « Mary, Guardian of the Orient », Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon

2015: Beirut Art Fair, Beirut, Lebanon

2017: Lebanese Embassy, Kuwait, Kuwait