Ricardo
Mbarkho
Artist, researcher and assistant professor. Head of the Research Department and Director of the Centre for Research and Creation, ALBA – University of Balamand.
Profile
Ricardo Mbarkho is a Lebanese artist, researcher and assistant professor whose scholarship and artistic practice query the intersections of media art, language, communication, cultural and creative industries, and socio-economic models of artistic production. He heads the Research Department and directs the Centre for Research and Creation at ALBA – University of Balamand. His work combines digital images and time-based media with participatory and socio-economic artistic practices, and has been presented through festivals, exhibitions, lectures and publications in Lebanon and internationally.
Experimental video · New media arts · Research-creation · Cultural & creative industries · Cultural policy · Socio-economic art · AI & arts education
Education
- 2017PhD, University Sorbonne Paris Nord ↗Thesis: What is at Stake in the Interaction between Media Arts and Cultural Industries
- Jun 2001DNSAP, with the Jury’s CongratulationsÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris (ENSBA)
- Aug–Nov 1999Exchange studentCarnegie Mellon University, College of Fine Arts, Pittsburgh
- Jun 1998Higher Studies in Cinematography and Audiovisual TechniquesÉcole Supérieure d’Études Cinématographiques (ESEC), Paris
- 1996Higher Studies in Painting and DrawingLebanese University, Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, Branch 2
Teaching
- 2002–presentLecturer, then Assistant ProfessorAcadémie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA) – University of Balamand. Art, Video and New Media
- 2006Teacher, UNESCO digi-artsArt, Design and Technology Master Classes in the Arab States (e-course)
- 1997–2000Staff, Infography ClusterÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris
Earlier publications and artistic records may appear under the name Ricardo Mbarak. Languages: French, English, Arabic.
Research
Since February 2023 he has been structuring the Centre for Research and Creation (CRC) at ALBA – University of Balamand: a space for research, creation, documentation and publication in the arts, built around interdisciplinary and collaborative work with internal and external partners.
Visit the CRCProjects
- Sep 2024–Jan 2026ARC: Invisual Art – Creativity within Socio-Economic Models ↗Atelier for Research and Creation, ALBA – University of Balamand. How art can develop outside the traditional market’s constraints
- Feb 2024–Mar 2025Artificial Intelligence and Artistic Education ↗CRC research project on the impact of AI in art education
- Sep–Dec 2024Lead Researcher, real-time AI image generation appWith Cre8mania. Funded by the EBRD, Lebanon
Leadership & representation
- 2023–presentHead of the Research Department and Director of the Centre for Research and CreationALBA – University of Balamand
- 2023–presentRepresentative of ALBA – UOB at the MEHEBeirut
- 2012–2016Adjunct Director, Visual Arts SchoolALBA – University of Balamand
- 2005–presentCorrespondent of the YASMIN Network in LebanonArt, science and technology around the Mediterranean Rim
Juries, committees & curating
- 2025–2026Jury, “Une Relève Méditerranéenne”Parallèle, L’École(s) du Sud and Miramar, France
- 2024–presentReviewer, Journal RegardsSaint-Joseph University of Beirut
- May 2023Nominator, AiR BeirutSaradar Foundation residency
- Jan–Feb 2023International jury, Film Festival Transcending BordersParis
- 2022Selection committees, Artémed residencies“World Cities” Paris; Zico House and Macam, Lebanon
- Dec 2020International jury, Bosnia Herzegovina Looks AroundParis
- 2016–presentVisual arts nominatorCivitella Ranieri Foundation, New York
- 2009–presentEvaluation Committee, FrancoLABSUniversité Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
- Jul 2010Co-curator, “Videoarte del Líbano”Alianza Francesa, Buenos Aires
- 2004–2010Director, Festival International de Film et Vidéo de CréationALBA and the Goethe-Institut, Beirut
- Sep 2008Curator, students’ video screeningCDEx, UQAM, Canada
- Sep–Oct 2006Co-curator, “Beirut – The videographic practice”Gallery B-312, Montréal
Publications
Journal articles in Leonardo (MIT Press), book chapters, proceedings and recorded talks.
Peer-reviewed articles
- 2021What Is at Stake in the Interaction between Media Arts and Cultural Industries in Lebanon →Leonardo 54(6), MIT Press, 714–716
- Jul 2016L’interdépendance dialectique entre création artistique médiatique et industries culturelles →Fann wa imarah, no. 6, Lebanese University
- 2012On New Media and Creativity in Lebanon →Leonardo 45(2), MIT Press, 198–201
Book chapters, articles & proceedings
- May 2025Économie politique de l’art invisuel →Revue de Paris
- 2021En marche vers une idéologie neutre de la politique culturelle →In incertains regards, Presses Universitaires de Provence
- 2018Le modèle socioéconomique de l’art invisuel →Video lecture, FoméA, Paris
- 2014Presentation of the RAMI platform in Lebanon →Podcast, with C. Dussollier and A. Nawar
- 2013Trauma Stimulated Art, or the Embodiment of Affect in Lebanon: An Allegory →In Traumatic Affect, Cambridge Scholars Publishing
- 2012Response on new media and social change in MENA →Ibraaz online forum
- 2010A different kind of media creativity in the Lebanon →In Cultures and Globalization: Cultural Expression, Creativity & Innovation, SAGE
- 2008Introduction to Art and New Media in the Arab States →In Visual Narratives from Arabia, UNESCO
Books and catalogues about the work
- 2023Jean-Claude Moineau →Pour un art invisuel, inouï, inesthétique, inœuvré, pluriel…, Biennale de Paris
- 2021Corina Chutaux Mila →Esthétique de l’art invisuel, Les Éditions du Panthéon
- 2016Hind Al-Soufi →Visual Movements in the West and Arab World, 1500–2015
- 2016, 2018Art in America →Annual Guide
- 2014Positive Lebanon →Éditions Tamyras
- 2012Ricardo Mbarkho – Images. 2008–2012 →Catalogue, Mark Hachem Gallery
- 2012Mario Costa →Ontology of the media, postmedia books
- 2010Christophe Stener →Dictionnaire politique d’Internet et du numérique
- 2009Cathy Brickwood →Mapping E-Culture, Virtueel Platform
- 2008Fred Forest →Art et Internet, Le Cercle d’Art (also 2000, 2002, L’Harmattan)
Works
Over more than two decades, Mbarkho’s practice has embraced video and digital arts, as well as socio-economic art, which he defines through projects such as Tabbouleh Day, held every July since 2001. His work also extends to invisual art, questioning how art is produced, circulated, recognised, and made visible.
Socio-economic art
- February 2, 2024The Bible According to ChatGPT →Presented by the Biennale de Paris, December 25, 2024
- Since Jul 2001Tabbouleh Day →A celebration every first Saturday of July, Biennale de Paris, online and at Souk el Tayeb, Beirut
- 2004Wanting Is Having · Anonymous →Catalogue papers
- Jan 2000Paris – Côte Ouest →Brittany, France
- Since 1999Each one has from art what art has from itself →Connections
- Jun 1999Week-end Pierre-Yves Fave Portes Ouvertes →Connections
Digital
- September 20, 2026More Money →Game art
- 2008–2012Digital images →Series based on text files
- Since 2011Grading the Lebanese Constitution →Online page
- Since Aug 2003VISITORS →Online page
- Since Aug 2003CONNECTED →Online page
- 1999–2001Lebanese Group →USA – France. Discussion list
Video
- 2007Arameans →Lebanon. 3 min 36 s
- 2002More than normal →France. 10 min 18 s
- 1999Gare de Lyon – Juvisy →France. 52 min
- 1999M as in Megan →USA. 6 min
Exhibitions
Solo shows, group exhibitions and biennials, video festivals on four continents, and art fairs with Mark Hachem Gallery and ART UpCLOSE.
Solo
- May 2012Fine Pixels →Galerie Mark Hachem, Beirut
- Jun 2009[Since Art] →microARTos, Contemporary Art Center, Madrid
- 2001–2026Tabbouleh DayEach July; Souk el Tayeb, Beirut; Biennale de Paris, 2006 and 2016
- Jun 1999Week-end Pierre-Yves Fave Portes OuvertesLes Lilas, France
Selected group exhibitions & biennials
- Jul 2016Art Meetings – BeirutBiennale de Paris in Beirut
- Nov 2012Computer Art Congress 3 – PostDigital ArtParis
- Oct 2010–Nov 2012Visual Art Forum I–III →Beirut and Koura. Prize of the Ministry of Culture, 2010
- Oct 2010Politique 0 →Espace Niemeyer, Paris
- 2006–2008Biennale de Paris XVFrance / Lebanon
- Mar 2004Biennale de Paris XIVEspace SD, Beirut
- May–Jun 2002L’art c’est secondaireENSBA, Paris
- Mar 2000La Fête de l’InternetCité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, Paris
Festivals & video screenings
- Dec 2020Bosnia Herzegovina Looks AroundParis
- Oct 2014Festival dokumentARTPoland
- Feb–Mar 2012Art Video Exchange · CologneOFFTromsø, Norway · India
- Jun–Nov 2011CologneOFF · Art Video ExchangeMexico City · Oslo
- 2009Casablanca Video Art Festival · VIDEOFORMES · Les VagamondesMorocco · Clermont-Ferrand · Évry
- Jan–Nov 2008transmediale · LOOP’08 · INVIDEO · Instants VidéoBerlin · Barcelona · Milan · Marseille
- Mar–Oct 2008LiteSide · Oslo Screen · Barricades without bordersAmsterdam · Oslo · Sarajevo
- Mar 2003–Sep 2012Festival International Signes de NuitParis, Rotterdam, Düsseldorf, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Nuit Blanche 2005
- Oct 2004–Jan 2005Goethe-Institut · Espace SD · Cinémathèque QuébécoiseBeirut · Montréal
Art fairs
- Mar 2015–Sep 2019ART UpCLOSEArtexpo New York, Architectural Digest Show, Monaco Yacht Show, LA Art Show, Red Dot & Spectrum Miami, Art Monaco
- Sep 2017Beirut Art FairMark Hachem Gallery
- Dec 2014Spectrum MiamiContemporary Art Network
- Mar–Sep 2013Art Paris Art Fair · Beirut Art FairGalerie Mark Hachem, Grand Palais, Paris · Beirut
- Jul–Nov 2011Contemporary Istanbul · MENASART →Galerie Mark Hachem
- Nov 2008artParis Abu DhabiGalerie Épreuve d’Artiste
Prize of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture for the Contemporary Arts, Visual Art Forum I, Beirut, 2010.
Lectures & workshops
Invited lectures, seminars and round tables on invisual art, cultural policy and media art, from Beirut to Paris, Bangkok, Yamoussoukro and New York.
- May 2026The Artwork at War: Markets, Meaning, and Media from Modernity to AI →American University of Technology (AUT), Lebanon
- May 2025The Political, Social, and Economic World: A New Medium for Art →Institut d’art philosophique et invisuel, France
- May 2025The Political Economy of Invisual Art · The Invisual Art Collection at ALBA →Biennale de Paris, Poland
- Feb 2025Presentation of the Atelier for Research and Creation in Invisual Art →Biennale de Paris, Bangkok
- Apr 2024Revisiting Tabbouleh: A New Perspective on Its History →JEPTAV 2024, Institut Supérieur des Beaux-Arts de Sousse, Tunisia
- Jan 2024Invisual Art – A Socio-Economic Breakthrough · Invisual Resistance – The Evolution of Tabbouleh →École Nationale d’Art, Paris
- Nov 2022Tabbouleh Day →International colloquium on invisual art in Africa, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
- Jun 2022How Invisual Art Saved the World →Colloquium Doxa et Paradoxe, Sorbonne Université, Paris
- Mar 2022Where does artwork exist? →École Nationale d’Art, Paris
- Mar 2021Fermer les écoles d’art ou les réinventer →Biennale de Paris with the Hôtel de Ville de Paris
- Mar–May 2018What is at Stake in the Interaction Between Media Arts and Cultural Industries →Lebanese University, Deir el Kamar and Furn el Chebbak
Earlier lectures (2003–2016)
- Oct 2016The socio-economic model of ‘invisual’ art: an inter-model approach →Acta Media 12, Paris
- Mar 2016Cultural business incubators, incubators for Democracy? →Incubinc/AMI & Roberto Cimetta Fund, Marseille
- Dec 2015The use of social and political space as a platform for artistic practice →IHEAP at the Jeu de Paume, Paris
- Sep 2015Tabbouleh Day →IHEAP, Ashok Jain Gallery, New York
- Dec 2014Digital Art: History and New Aesthetic →Colloquium “Penser le numérique”, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut
- Nov 2012Digital Art and Cinema →RAMI 3.0, Notre Dame University, Beirut. With Claire Duport
- Jun 2011History and Future of Artistic Creation on the Internet →WJ-SPOTS, Mal au Pixel, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris
- Nov 2010A Panoramic Possible View: art and sciences in the Mediterranean →IMéRA, Marseille. With Claudine Dussollier
- Oct 2010Arts and Tabbouleh Day →Biennale de Paris in Cyprus, Nicosia
- Sep 2009Les enjeux de la création numérique →Crea Numerica 09, Beirut. With Marika Dermineur
- Apr 2008Beirut and Media Art Today →European Media Art Festival, Osnabrück
- Feb 2005Art and New Media in Lebanon →transmediale.05, Berlin
- Oct 2003How to Make Art on the Internet →Superior Institute of Fine Arts, Sousse
Seminars & round tables
- Apr 2024Round table: Invisual Art, Fields of Application and Implications →JEPTAV 2024, Sousse
- Dec 2022Symposium: Tabbouleh Day →P.A.S. Lab and Biennale de Paris
- Nov 2022Seminar: How to Buy or Sell Invisual Art? →DIAM, Biennale de Paris
- Nov 2017Study day: Arts et politique culturelle dans le sud méditerranéen →LESA, Aix-Marseille Université
- Sep–Dec 2017Round tables: Current Stakes of the Visual Arts in Lebanon · Art schools in globalisation →Lebanese University, Beirut · ANdEA, Strasbourg
- Nov 2014Master class: social and political space as a medium →IHEAP, Paris
- Nov 2014Round table: Strategies and Territories →Villa Méditerranée, Marseille
- Feb 2012Round table: A view on new forms of artistic expression by young Arabs →UNESCO-Sharjah Prize ceremony, UNESCO, Paris. Co-moderated with Tereza Wagner
- Oct 2012Seminar: Political Art, art and politics · Round table: Artists and the digital revolution →RAMI 3.0, Beirut
- Oct–Nov 2007Seminars: Art and New Media · New media and History of Art →RAMI, Alexandria Biennale and Beirut
- Jun 2005Round table: eCulture, Creative Content and DigiArts →World Summit Contributory Conference, Vienna
- Sep 2004Experts meeting, UNESCO Digi-arts →Ars Electronica, Linz
Institutions & networks
Where he teaches, researches and belongs. Former member of the Syndicate of Lebanese Visual Artists and the Maison des Artistes, France.