Hussein Madi

Hussein Madi (born 1938) is a Lebanese painter, sculptor and printmaker. He studied painting, sculpture and printing in Beirut (at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts) and Rome (at the Academia di Belle Arti). He lived between these two cities between 1973 and 1986. In Rome, he did advanced research on Arabic cultural heritage and on Egypt. He went back to Lebanon in 1986 where he taught sculpture and engraving at the Institute of Fine Arts of the Lebanese University and, from 1958 to 1962, at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts. He has been exhibiting in Europe since 1965. His art has been showcased at the British Museum, the Venice Biennale and Tokyo's Ueno Museum.

Life and work
Hussein Madi, Brown Bird, 22×23 cm, 2014

Born in Keserwan District, Lebanon, Madi's body of works is often said to relate to modern European artists like Matisse and Picasso as well as the abstract designs of Islamic art. Madi outlines a silhouette of woman on the entire surface of the canvas with quick strokes of his large brush. His paintings are often based on interplays between straight and curved lines. The features of his characters are those of the Oriental man clearly showing his cultural heritage. In their attitudes, two expressions are found: a static one which shows permanence in the face of the transitory, and the deep Oriental faith in immortality and eternal rest, and also a facial expression of cruel irony, playing the part of the mask in the Greek tragedy or an expression of suffering through stiff posture, like the loud outburst of a horrible cry, the terrible roar of the Assyrian lioness dragging along her crushed rump. This rending roar personifies the cry of Humanity. The Italian critic Joseph Silvaggi writes about Madi: "His drawings are filled with symbols and rich with artistic conventions in simplified forms; they are an enchanted script, a résumé of figurative art, the art of modern man."

Awards

Madi has won several prizes: the Sursock Museum 5th Salon Prize for Painting (1965–66), the 8th Salon's Prize for Sculpture offered by the Italian Cultural Centre in 1968/69 and the First Prize for Engraving, Citta di Lecce, Italy (1974). He was President of the Association of Lebanese Artists (1982, 1992).

Publications
  • Unexpected Trove | The Unseen Works of Hussein Madi | Rome 1964-1970 (Dongola, 2019)
  • A Boundless Life (Antoine, 2012)
  • The Art of Madi (Saqi Books, 2005)
  • Hussein Madi (Galleria d'Arte Cavour, 1972) (Italian)

Exhibitions
* 2019 Unexpected Trove - The Unseen Works of Hussein Madi (Rome 1964–1970), Beirut Art Fair (paintings, solo)
  • 2014 An Endless Sense of Creativity, Collages, Lithographs, Paintings and Sculptures, al markhiya gallery, Doha Qatar (solo)
  • 2010 Artspace Gallery, Dubai (Paintings)
  • 2009 Aida cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon(Sculpture Exhibition)
  • 2008 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Paintings: Omaggio alla Donna)
  • 2008 University of Balamand (Paintings, Sculptures, Drawings & Prints)
  • 2006 ArtSpace Gallery, Dubai
  • 2006 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Paintings)
  • 2005 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Graphic Art Exhibition)
  • 2004 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Paintings & Signature)
  • 2004 Italian Embassy in Lebanon (Beirut)
  • 2003 Venice Biennale
  • 2002 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Drawings)
  • 2002 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Graphic Art Exhibition)
  • 2001 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Sculptures)
  • 2000 Aida Cherfan Fine Art, Beirut, Lebanon (Paintings)
  • 1999 Music Festival, Al Bustan Hotel, Beit Mery, Lebanon
  • 1999 Euro Art 1999 Special Liban, Geneva
  • 1998 Alice Moghabghab Gallery, Beirut (Prints)
  • 1998 Cairo Opera
  • 1997 Sharjah Museum
  • 1997 Alice Moghabghab Gallery, Beirut (Paintings)
  • 1997 Alice Moghabghab Gallery, Beirut (Drawing)
  • 1996 Alice Moghabghab Gallery, Beirut (Paintings)
  • 1996 Alice Moghabghab Gallery, Beirut (Sculptures)
  • 1996 23rd International Biennale, São Paulo, Brazil
  • 1995 Green Art Gallery, Dubai
  • 1995 Qatar Museum for Modern Art, Doha
  • 1995 Alice Moghabghab Gallery, Beirut (Paintings)
  • 1994 L’entretemps Gallery, Mansourieh, Beirut
  • 1994 First International Biennale, Cairo (Prints)
  • 1994 1st Cairo Int’l Bienanal in Graphic Art Major
  • 1994 Rochane Galler, Beirut (Collages)
  • 1994 Darat El-Founoun, Amman
  • 1993 Atassi Gallery, Damascus
  • 1992 Sursock Museum, Beirut
  • 1992 Yarze Country Club, Lebanon
  • 1990 50 x 70 Gallery, Beirut
  • 1990 British Museum, London
  • 1989 Platform Gallery, Beirut (Drawing and Prints)
  • 1989 Platform Gallery, Beirut (Paintings)
  • 1989 L’Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris
  • 1988 Platform Gallery, Beirut (Sculptures)
  • 1988 Platform Gallery, Beirut (Pastel and Water Colors)
  • 1987 Association of Lebanese Artists, Beirut
  • 1986 Association of Lebanese Artists, Beirut
  • 1985 Petra Bank Art Gallery, Amman
  • 1984 Kuwait Biennale
  • 1984 Graphic Art Biennale, Bradford, U.K
  • 1984 Platform Gallery, Beirut
  • 1983 Association of Lebanese Artists, Beirut
  • 1982 Sursock Museum, Beirut
  • 1981 Mandaloun Gallery, Dbayeh, Beirut
  • 1980 12th International Painting Festival, Cagnes-sur-Mer France
  • 1980 Italian Cultural Center, Beirut
  • 1980 Antique Gallery, Beirut
  • 1980 Faris Gallery, Paris
  • 1979 Held first retrospective, Chamber of Commerce, Beirut
  • 1978 Samia Tutunji Gallery, Beirut
  • 1978 International Print Exhibition, Lecce, Italy
  • 1977 Samia Tutunji Gallery, Beirut
  • 1976 Islamic Art Exhibit, London
  • 1976 Esagono Gallery, Lecce, Italy
  • 1975 Novelli Gallery, Verone, Italy
  • 1974 Samia Tutunji Gallery, Beirut (solo)
  • 1974 Cite de Lecce, Italy (1st prize in Sculpture)
  • 1974 Exhibited at the Baghdad International Biennale
  • 1974 Modulart Gallery, Beirut
  • 1973 Contact Gallery, Beirut
  • 1973 Trifalco Gallery, Roma
  • 1972 Trifalco Gallery, Italy
  • 1972 Ueno Museum, Tokyo
  • 1972 Ministry of Tourism Art Exhibit, Roma
  • 1972 Contini Gallery, Roma
  • 1972 Cavour Gallery, Milano
  • 1972 Cortina Gallery, Milan
  • 1971 La Estadera Gallery, Italy
  • 1970 Soligo Gallery, Roma (solo)
  • 1970 Magnagraccia Gallery, Taranto, Italy
  • 1968 Sursock Museum, Beirut (1st prize of sculpture)
  • 1968 Dar El-Fann Gallery, Beirut (solo)
  • 1968 Poliedro Gallery, Roma (solo)
  • 1968 Italien Culture Center (1st prize in Sculpture)
  • 1967 Alexandria Biennale
  • 1966 Exhibition in the Museum of Beirut
  • 1965 The Gallery of the Association of Lebanese Artists
  • 1965 Sursock Museum, Beirut (1st prize of painting)
  • 1965 Exhibited at the Alexandria Biennale, Egypt
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