Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Partners With Creative Space Beirut To Create A Series of Art Covers, Dedicated To Lebanon | November 2024
Our landmark November issue is dedicated to the creatives who – amid increasing hardships – shine love and light into the spaces that need it most
This month, we dedicate our issue to Lebanon. Forever in our hearts.
Partnering with Creative Space Beirut, a design school that provides free education to youth from vulnerable backgrounds, we asked students to create custom artwork with the blank white page as their canvas and Lebanon as their muse. White, to represent peace – offering quite literally carte blanche to express their feelings of hope, faith, strength and tenacity.
Joined by some of Lebanon’s most-beloved established creative names, we hope to showcase that even though Lebanon has found itself once again bruised, it is never, ever broken. The country’s spirit continues to soar – and the beauty of art is just one of the many ways it shows us how.
Joe Al Daccache; Second-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“Forever tied to my homeland”
Twenty-four-year-old Joe is a second-year fashion design student who already holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture from the Lebanese University of Fine Arts. This gouache painting, based on a personal family photo from 2001, represents his deep connection to Lebanon. Despite the challenges, he feels tied to his homeland because of his family’s enduring presence and support.
Michèle Aoun; Photographer
“The more we experience pain, the more we yearn for the beauty of life”
Michèle Aoun is a Lebanese photographer and art director who has shot for fashion and beauty brands including Krikor Jabotian, Katerina Tarazi and Tessa Sakhi. Her raw, poignant aesthetic holds real poetry and has been coloured by her home; the ever-in-flux capital city of Beirut. Here, she describes the scene she’s captured as representative of a truly Lebanese philosophy: “The more we experience pain, the more we yearn for the beauty of life.”
Mahdi Fakih; Second-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“Entangled”
A fascination with aesthetics and self-expression informs this Odaisseh native’s creative process. He blends research, sketching and experimentation, drawing inspiration from nature, art, and cultural influences. This striking piece “captures the silencing effect of trauma,” he explains. “The red threads crisscrossing the face symbolise how pain and past experiences can entangle us, leaving us voiceless and restrained. The muted tones and weary eyes emphasise the sense of isolation and the heavy burden of being unable to speak one’s truth.”
Ahmad Nour Elhage; First-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“Light among darkness, hope amidst challenge”
Twenty-year-old Ahmad, a first-year student at Creative Space Beirut (CSB), focuses on the intersection of art and fashion. Captivated by how creative expression translates into design, he is passionate about exploring new ideas and materials, constantly seeking ways to turn artistic concepts into wearable art. For Ahmad, art isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about emotion and connection, with every piece telling a story. A strong example of his work, he took this photograph of a box he created from foam board, placing a light inside to symbolise hope. He feels this “interplay between darkness and light” embodies “the essence of optimism amidst challenges.”
Carl Gerges & Karine Tawil; Architect & Musician; Fashion Designer
“Deeply rooted in our beloved country, we nurture hope. Our dreams belong to us”
Architect Carl, previously of indie band, Mashrou’ Leila, and designer Karine – the name behind fashion line Karoline Lang – worked together as a team to create this piece that is both intensely patriotic and filled with the yearning and promise of a brighter future. “This photo is one we took together in the Lebanese mountains, along with some references that tie back to our roots and our emotions,” the duo shared. Lines include, “My country, you look like shooting stars,” and “My country that travels between dreams and morning.
Ahmed Amer; Fashion Designer, Artist, Creative Space Beirut Alumnus
“Peace rises above”
A winner of the Open My Med 2020/2021 prize by Maison Mode Méditerranée and Fashion Trust Arabia prize 2024 for ready-to-wear, now-established CSB School of Design graduate Ahmed launched his eponymous brand in 2018, after raising his profile through a series of collaborations. Known for iconoclastic yet whimsical line drawings, he also engages in live illustration performances and has taught sketching and fashion illustration at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA). Ahmed also serves as Creative Director at Inaash, where he supports Palestinian embroidery heritage, and is currently a tutor at Creative Space Beirut, mentoring future generations.
Georgio El Hachem; First-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“Echoes of peace”
“This piece is a reminder that, despite the pain, we must rise together, striving for a future defined by unity, not division,” Chouf-born Georgio explains. The 23-year-old already has a CV filled with qualifications that include a background in advertising and marketing communication, plus a Master’s degree in digital marketing. Now focused on fashion design, Georgio sees the medium as a powerful outlet for self-expression and cultural connection.
Eli Rezkallah; Photographer, Creative Director & Artist
“The cycle of dreams, 2005”
Fashion photographer, video director and visual artist – there aren’t many cultural and creative spheres that Eli hasn’t contributed to. Producing provocative work via his Beirut and New York-based Plastik Studios, and showcasing it in Plastik Magazine, Eli takes a deep dive into the region’s traditions and subcultures. Names that have been transformed by his dramatic lens include Miley Cyrus and Elissa, but his output has always had a strong socio-political overture. The above stills are taken from a video he took back in 2005, and now – with his residency in New York – are all the more poignant in meaning.
Sabine Getty; Jewellery Designer
“Lebanon, our spirit and soul”
Although she now calls London home, Lebanese-Egyptian Sabine Getty’s heart firmly belongs in the Middle East. The high-profile jewellery designer, style icon and writer, who trained in theatre before switching trajectories and has lived in both Geneva and Beirut, is forever articulating her love for her homeland. This work, in collaboration with her good friend, fellow jeweller Elie Top, is her latest beautiful homage.
Razane Jammal; Actress
“Love is Resistance, Resistance is Love”
Actress Razane Jammal is known for her heartfelt creativity, so it comes as no surprise that she was able to conjure this piece, a rallying cry to her fellow countrymen. She envisaged it as a “reminder for Lebanese people to unite, resist with love and stand for our collective humanity.” The message, penned on a napkin and placed on a dinner table, aims to honour the central meeting place in Lebanese culture where generations come together. “It is a celebration of our local cuisine,” she explains, adding, “the olives symbolise prosperity, friendship and peace, bread embodies our unbreakable bond, a passport represents the pride in our identity, and a red flower with a green stem on a white backdrop showcases the colours of our flag. In addition, the blurry feel reflects our current state of mind during these uncertain times. Finally, the unedited image is taken through an olive oil bottle, serving as a token of hope. Our trees might be burning, but they will always be rooted in our land – all 10,452 km2 of it.”
Mariana Wehbe & Anna Ogden-Smith; Founder of We Design Beirut; Creative Director at Bananamonkey
“Unity will move us forward”
“I believe there’s nothing more important right now than our unity and patriotism to help us move forward,” says Mariana Wehbe. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, she helms her eponymous public relations agency specialising in the cultural realm and co-founded Bebw’Shebbek, a Beirut-based NGO that restores damaged homes following the explosion in 2020. Mariana also launched We Design Beirut to amplify the city’s design scene. This work, done in collaboration with graphic designer Anna Ogden-Smith, puts the spotlight on the opening sentence of the Lebanese national anthem. “I took its meaning – our collective dedication to our country – and transformed it into the flag design,” she explains.
Hazem Kais; Artist & Fashion Designer; Creative Space Beirut Alumnus
“A memory of nature’s might”
Graduating from Creative Space Beirut in 2017, Hazem launched Beirut-based label GOODKILL just three years later, with an aesthetic that embraces a timeless approach to dressing, driven by a deep exploration of handmade textiles and innovative processes. Specialising in fabric manipulation, he creates unique, experimental designs that challenge traditional fashion boundaries. He writes of his art piece, “A memory of nature’s might, whispers of her people entwined. Buried deep in the earth’s embrace, her power flows in tender grace. Resilient against those who intrude, a bond of strength and solitude.
Miled Chahla; Second-year student; Creative Space Beirut
“Forgotten memories”
Miled’s artistic journey is deeply personal, exploring themes of memory, nostalgia and emotional states. So it is no wonder that this piece, Forgotten Memories, is the second-year fashion design student’s study on the fragility of recollections and the passage of time. Focusing on abandoned photographs of his father left to decay in the snow, the images mirror Miled’s current mental and spiritual state. The frost’s impact symbolises the erosion of clarity and the layers of emotional weight carried through the years, transforming forgotten memories into a profound reflection of personal resilience.
Charbel Abdelsater; First-year student; Creative Space Beirut
“Beirut curls in sorrow”
Achrafieh-born Charbel’s sights have always firmly been on integrating himself in the art scene. Perpetually sketching and drawing, the first-year student has been honing his craft at Creative Space Beirut. His dream is to realise a successful career in the fashion industry, and is in the process of pushing creative boundaries and developing his already impressive skills. When asked about this piece, he tells us, “Beirut curls in sorrow with torn and broken wings. A ray of hope made of words shines upon her, with each feather representing a fragment of Beirut’s pain and poetry, capturing the city’s eternal scars and whispered resilience.”
Joe Koueik; Fashion Designer; Creative Space Beirut Alumnus
“Among the dust”
Given his traditional Christian familial roots, Joe often found it a challenge to push boundaries. Driven by a passion to show that being different is not only okay but inspiring, he used his work to bridge cultural divides and question societal norms. Music and personal experiences deeply influence his designs, serving as a form of self-reflection and identity. This graduate of Creative Space Beirut often draws on personal stories, using fashion as a medium to express pride, overcome obstacles, and build self-confidence. This piece symbolises the chaos of war, “reflecting the experiences of displaced families and children yearning for warmth and safety,” he says. “The background hints at the dual meaning of ‘present’ – both as a gift of hope and as the harsh reality we currently face, capturing the tension between holding onto hope and confronting our stark circumstances.”
Nour Chamseddine; Second-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“Clash”
After transitioning into the fashion world to pursue his true passion, despite originally having a very different career trajectory given his Master’s degree in genomics and health, Nour’s submission is inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s prescient poem, War and Small Nations. We see an ewe and her lamb in a peaceful meadow, while two eagles clash violently overhead despite the vastness of the sky. The ewe, puzzled by the unnecessary conflict, urges her lamb to pray for peace. The piece explores themes of conflict, greed, and the senselessness of division in a world with enough for all.
Mostafa Al-Sous; Third-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“Peace in a land where art is a foundation”
Growing up surrounded by craftsmanship – his mother’s crocheting, his aunt’s sewing skills, and his father’s glass drawings – it was inevitable that Mostafa would veer into the creative sphere. An emphasis on handiwork, combining traditional techniques with contemporary designs, informs his work, including this piece that combines batik, silk screen and illustration. “Combining the word peace among all the forms is the hope that we all strive to achieve, peace in a land where art is a fundamental foundation,” the Saida-born artist says.
Patile Tachjian; Third-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“A tribute to my ancestors’ endurance”
This powerful work, inspired by Patile’s family history of surviving the Armenian genocide 110 years ago, is an intensely “personal reflection on the ongoing cycles of violence that persist today.” She continues, “It breaks my heart that humanity still faces such atrocities, and I aim to express this pain and resilience through my work. This piece is both a tribute to my ancestors’ endurance and a call for awareness and change in our present time.” The trunk pictured is the actual luggage used by her grandfather to flee Armenia for Lebanon.
Anis El Jamal; Fashion Design Instructor, Creative Space Beirut Alumnus
“Hope reborn”
Anis El Jamal, better known by his pseudonym anicxrn, is a recent graduate of the institute who returned to tutor fashion design at Creative Space Beirut. Adept at graphic design, fashion design and digital illustration, anicxrn finds creative expression by exploring fantasy and unconventional landscapes within each discipline he pursues. “This artwork represents hope reborn after immense darkness,” he explains. “It captures the essence of renewal, light emerging from deep shadows, and the journey from despair to optimism. The piece reflects the power of hope to rise and shine again, even in the darkest times.”
Amir Al Kasm; Fashion Designer, Creative Space Beirut Alumnus
“Transformation carries both purity and darkness”
This Creative Space Beirut alumnus is known for his innovative approach to pattern-making and commitment to sustainability in fashion. Notable achievements include the 2023 Fashion Trust Arabia award in the Eveningwear category, with high-profile collaborations exemplifying his dedication to craftsmanship and creativity while pushing the boundaries of design. Amir tells us, “This drawing features a hand holding a butterfly, with black and white paint dripping from its wings down the fingers. The contrasting paints symbolise the balance between light and darkness, beauty and struggle. It conveys that transformation carries both purity and darkness, as light and shadow flow together, shaping our journey.”
Sonia Melkisetian; Second-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“Hope and creativity defines the Lebanese spirit”
Sonia believes that “Your art isn’t finished until it is shared.” The Lebanese-Armenian student, whose passion spans arts and crafts, illustration, photography and styling, explains the ethos behind her latest piece which echoes the sentiment of Fairuz’s Konna Netlaka. The two fenjan cups, used as a symbol to reclaim familiar customs like sharing coffee with family – a simple tradition disrupted by the current displacement and need to stay safe – look to brighter days ahead, acting as a beacon of hope to reconnect with loved ones. The organic coffee spill flows across the piece, echoing the Lebanese tradition of tobsir – seeking glimpses of the future in coffee grounds, a comforting ritual amid uncertainty.
Karim Karam; Second-year student, Creative Space Beirut
“The crescent moon floats like a whisper of hope”
“Transcendence is a visual meditation on the delicate balance between chaos and serenity, a reflection of the collective consciousness of Lebanon and the region,” architect and fashion design student Karim tells us. Expressing his emotions through multidisciplinary art, blending experimental photography with conceptual sketches, he often explores dark emotions, creating a deeply evocative and thought-provoking narrative. Yet there is still light. Here, the crescent moon floats like a whisper of hope, hinting at cycles of renewal, as this journey transcends the material world, navigating between worlds of unrest and the promise of peace.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s November 2024 issue.