POLITICS
POLITICS
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
ARTS & CULTURE
ARTS & CULTURE
FASHION
FASHION
HEALTH
HEALTH
SOCIAL
SOCIAL
SPORTS
SPORTS
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
TOURISM
TOURISM
ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT
Meteo
Beyrouth : 14°C
ARTS & CULTURE
iLoubnan | Arts & Culture | Cinema | Ricardo Mbarkho : « You must live your work and not just contemplate it »

RICARDO MBARKHO : « YOU MUST LIVE YOUR WORK AND NOT JUST CONTEMPLATE IT »

6 December 2007, by Diana Kahil

The 33-year-old Ricardo Mbarkho is a Lebanese artist and a videographer. Ricardo films and never stops filming. He is never away from his camcorder which is the expression of video-art. It is a particularly economic art because it does not require a purchase or a lot of material means.

In this artist’s repertoire, there is a set of three works focusing on communication via internet (like LebaneseGroup, Connected, or Visitors), video installation, and videos (like A la mémoire de Basil Fuleihan, Plus que normal, and Gare de Lyon-Juvisy). Ricardo Mbarkho is a new art precursor: the art he claims is simply a way to be.

“Everyone takes from art what art takes from himself”. According to Mbarkho, creation has to be a means and not an end in itself. It must actively participate in the “network’s” advent, made up of a new thoughts principle, a mixture, and an intercultural dialogue against the hostile reign of incommunicability.

Ricardo graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts in Beirut, The School of Fine Arts in Paris, and the School of Cinematography Studies. Always flying between France and Lebanon, this artist is living in a breathtaking rhythm nowadays: Ricardo teaches, creates, and exhibits in Lebanon, in France, and in all the corners of the world.

Therefore, he represents the “ambitious” Lebanese person: Ricardo the student made his way in life, especially in the universe of video as well as in the 7th art, overwhelmed by the will of succeeding and representing the socio-cultural Lebanese belonging to a national and multinational public, above any prejudice and by mixing dreams, ideas, and secret gardens without any modesty. This is surely going on in a heart-broken Lebanon.

As an artist, why did you choose video art as a basis to your creativity?

First of all, I have to say that my job is based on three specific factors: identity, relations and social theme in Lebanon, through the Middle East, and all around the world.

Video art diffusion by media is easier than any other artistic form, like sculpture or paintings.

This art is an expressive mean. It is accessible to the public. Therefore, it is easily copied and anyone can reproduce it on PCs.

It is then a powerful support, especially nowadays, because the image is everywhere (television, cinema, photography...). Thus, it plays an important role in our modern society.

What can you tell us about your work in experimental art, and what about your last court-metrage?

The head of the pyramid in cinema is “how to tell?” In experimental art, the important thing isn’t “how to tell” anymore, but it is the personal position of the artist, according to a precise social living as well as the global “Society”.

In my artistic work, I rely on video. The plan goes from the “tight” to the “large”. The large plan is the extended “tight” one. It shows a global image of the whole society.

Also, concerning my work, the last video I have just finished (June 2007, 3.36 secondes, screened at the Goethe-Institut, Beirut), tackles this context of the “tight”/”large” plan.

As for my last synopsis, “Araméens”, it reflects the Aramean identity, based on mobility since the departure from Iraq...

What’s the importance of video art in Lebanon? Who is concerned by it?

Since 2000, video art has become more and more trendy in Lebanon. We can even consider it as a “phenomenon”, a new birth, and a continuing expansion. Actually, we should say that this artistic form is making a considerable progress.

Video art is now as a real as painting, sculpture and photography. It allows the young Lebanese to express their dreams and thoughts.

How do you see the future Lebanon?

I can’t have positive thoughts about the future, and I can’t talk about political stability, because Lebanon suffered from crises on different levels. These successive crises are now alternated and Peace is never assured. Unfortunately, problems are increasing and Lebanon is in danger. Personally, I don’t believe in a long-term stability in the Cedar Land.

I think that we don’t have to talk about a political future, but about a “political near future”, because the Lebanese people are always worried about explosions, attempts against security and order, assassinations...

Lebanon is facing dangerous situations. The country’s political and socio-economic are absent especially in Nahr el Bared, Israel, Palestine...

Surprise is a major factor for the Lebanese citizens: something happened, something should happen, something will happen…!!! Nowadays, I am very pessimistic. Lebanon is suffering from a big injury. But what is certain is that it will never die.

Finally, what would you like to add?

I would like to say that I am not only a video maker, but also an immaterial works creator. This means that I work without any artistic substance, as the "National Tabbouleh Day" shows it. It is just an information matter. But it can also be a celebration that transforms reality into beauty. This representation of art reflects the fact that “we should deeply live the work”, and not simply look at it.