All works/2008–2012

Digital images from text files

Digital images

Date: 2008–2012
Medium: Digital images from text files
Details: Series based on text files

TV interview

Digital Visuals from Lebanon

2008-2012 · 10 works

Prize of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture. Visual Art Forum 2010. Beirut. Ricardo Mbarkho questions a series of Lebanese national and political statutory texts through an esthetical process, where formal agreements are treated as pure information disregarding their lexical meaning.

**النشيد الوطني اللبناني (The Lebanese National Anthem)**2012 · 12x13 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 93.98 cm x 101.812 cm, edition of seven

**Coloring with the Lebanese Constitution**2011 · 958 x 960 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 101.388 cm x 101.6 cm, edition of seven

**The Lebanese Constitution**2008 · 118x119 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 56.519 cm x 56.998 cm, edition of one

**Lebanon**2008 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 56.999 cm x 56.999 cm, edition of one

**The National Pact. 1943**2008 · 21x21 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 53.34 cm x 53.34 cm, edition of one

**The Tripartite Agreement. December 28, 1985**2008 · 113x114 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 56.5 cm x 57 cm, edition of one

**The Taef Agreement. September 1989**2008 · 89x89 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 56.999 cm x 56.999 cm, edition of one

**Lebanon-Syria Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation, and Coordination. May 20, 1991**2008 · 58x58 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 56.553 cm x 56.553 cm, edition of one

**The Doha Agreement. May 21, 2008**2008 · 43x44 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 54.692 cm x 55.964 cm, edition of one

Digital Visuals from Lebanon, exhibition view — Exhibition view

Visualizing Communication

2008-2012 · 5 works

Text based images related to communication basics.

**sms**2012 · 7000 x 7000 pixels · Pigmented print of photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz**2011 · 3x3 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 102.669 cm x 102.669 cm, edition of seven

**Communicate**2008 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 56.249 cm x 56.249 cm, edition of one

**Miscommunication**2008 · 2x3 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 37.875 cm x 56.813 cm, edition of one

**Universal Declaration of Human Rights**2008 · 60x62 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 54.37 cm x 56.183 cm, edition of one

Visualizing Communication, exhibition view — Exhibition view

Hidden Colors

2011 · 3 works

Critical words that govern daily communication transcended into shape and color.

**God**2011 · 7000 x 7000 pixels · Pigmented print of photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Red**2011 · 7000 x 7000 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Sex**2011 · 7000 x 7000 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

Space

2011 · 7 works

Images made from pure space. From the plain Space and Return keyboard keys to monochromatic evocative voids.

**Return Two Times**2011 · 1 pixel · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Return Three Times**2011 · 1 pixel · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Enter Space Enter**2011 · 1 pixel · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Space Enter**2011 · 1 pixel · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Space Enter Enter**2011 · 1 pixel · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Space Space Enter**2011 · 1 pixel · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

Beyond Repetition

2011 · 3 works

Mbarkho "forces" the computer to read over and over again the same text, creating pattern-style visuals that leap beyond literal retinal reception.

**4140 times the word Amen**2011 · 91x91 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 91 cm x 91 cm, edition of seven

**5306 times the word Together**2011 · 133x133 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 103.945 cm x 103.945 cm, edition of seven

**again and again till 18375 words**2011 · 175x175 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 88.9 cm x 88.9 cm, edition of seven

Beauty

2011 · 20 works

« The Beauty series » is a series of digital images generated from words that are all related to beauty. It is a way to rethink the notion of beauty and its visual representation. It is a work situated at the crossroads of the traditional and the alternative meanings of beauty.

**Beautiful**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Attractive**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Stylish**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Elegant**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Fashionable**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Fine-looking**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Good-looking**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Gorgeous**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Graceful**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Handsome**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**In vogue**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Stunning**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**Pleasing to the eye**2011 · 3x3 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 99 cm x 99 cm, edition of seven

**Striking**2011 · 2x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 1 m x 1 m, edition of seven

**The latest thing**2011 · 2x3 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 66 cm x 99 cm, edition of seven

**Well put together**2011 · 2x3 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 66 cm x 99 cm, edition of seven

**Up to the minute**2011 · 2x3 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 66 cm x 99 cm, edition of seven

**Chic**2011 · 1x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 50 cm x 100 cm, edition of seven

**Lovely**2011 · 1x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 50 cm x 100 cm, edition of seven

**Trendy**2011 · 1x2 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 50 cm x 100 cm, edition of seven

Biblical Themes

2010 · 4 works

Texts from the Bible tackled by artists through history being revisited by Mbarkho.

**Book of Genesis**2010 · 263x264 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 102.772 cm x 103.163 cm, edition of seven

**Book of Numbers**2010 · 248x248 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 104.987 cm x 104.987 cm, edition of seven

**The Last Supper (Luke 22: 7-38)**2010 · 35x35 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 88.9 cm x 88.9 cm, edition of seven

**The Apocalypse**2010 · 147x148 pixels · Pigmented print on photo paper, 99.995 cm x 100.675 cm, edition of seven

About the work

Ricardo Mbarkho uses the computer as a tool to convert texts into images. By this process, the text's binary codes, which are the digits that computers use to store information, generate a unique corresponding image. These digital images therefore become a visual equivalent of the initial texts. With this technique, Ricardo is investigating multiple questions related to language, communication, cultural industries, history of art as well as visual representation.

KeywordsDigital. Recycling. Communication. Politics. Relation. Art history. Religion.

Exhibited at

2019 - Monaco Yacht Show, ART UpCLOSE, Monaco
2019 - Artexpo New York, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2019 - Architectural Digest Show, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2019 - Los Angeles Art Show, ART UpCLOSE, LA, USA
2018 - Red Dot Miami, ART UpCLOSE, Miami, USA
2018 - Monaco Yacht Show, ART UpCLOSE, Monaco
2018 - Artexpo New York, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2018 - Architectural Digest Show, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2017 - Spectrum Miami Art Fair, ART UpCLOSE, Miami, USA
2017 - Monaco Yacht Show, ART UpCLOSE, Monaco
2017 - Artexpo New York, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2017 - Architectural Digest Show, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2016 - Spectrum Miami Art Fair, ART UpCLOSE, Miami, USA
2016 - Art Monaco, ART UpCLOSE, Monaco
2016 - Artexpo New York, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2016 - Architectural Digest Home, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2015 - Spectrum Miami Art Fair, ART UpCLOSE, Miami, USA
2015 - Arab Collective Art Exhibition, Mark Hachem gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2015 - Artexpo New York, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2015 - Architectural Digest Home, ART UpCLOSE, New York, USA
2014 - Spectrum Miami Art Fair, Contemporary Art Network, Miami, USA
2013 - Beirut Art Fair, Mark Hachem gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2013 - Art Paris Art Fair, Mark Hachem gallery, Grand Palais, Paris, France
2012 - Fine Pixels, Mark Hachem gallery, Beirut, Lebanon →
2012 - La Fête de l'Internet 2012, Museaav, Nice, and La Cantine, Paris France
2011 - Visual Art Forum II, Beirut and Koura, Lebanon →
2011 - MENASART Fair, Galerie Mark Hachem, Beirut, Lebanon →
2010 - Visual Art Forum I, Beirut, Lebanon. Prize of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture for the Contemporary Arts →
2010 - Politique 0, Espace Niemeyer, Paris, France →
2009 - Crea Numerica, Piece Unique gallery, Beirut, Lebanon →
2009 - [Since Art], microARTos, Contemporary Art Center, Madrid, Spain →
2008 - artParis AbuDhabi, Galerie Epreuve d'Artiste, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2008 - Lebanon Now . Lebanese Artists Association (LAA Gallery), Beirut, Lebanon →