Drawing from Galerie Épreuve d’Artiste’s archive – generously donated to the Sursock Museum by the gallery’s cofounder Amal Traboulsi – the documents exhibited here highlight key artists represented by the gallery who have had a significant impact on Lebanon’s cultural landscape throughout the years.
In the midst of Lebanon’s raging civil war (1975-1990), Traboulsi, together with professor and artist Martin Giesen, defied conventional wisdom by launching an art gallery in the heart of Beirut in 1979. Beginning with its early forays in the graphic arts and printmaking, Galerie Épreuve d’Artiste played a crucial role in keeping cultural life in the Lebanese capital alive through its darkest hours. For three decades (1979-2006), Galerie Épreuve d’Artiste acted as both a commercial gallery and cultural institution, exhibiting works by emerging and established artists.
This display is programmed in conjunction with the launch of Traboulsi’s Galerie Épreuve d’Artiste : Chronique d’une galerie sur fond de guerre, available for sale at the Sursock Museum Store. The archive of Galerie Épreuve d’Artiste will soon be available for consultation at the Library.