The Lebanese Poet & Visual Artist Etel Adnan Lives On Through Her Art
Lebanese-American writer and artist Etel Adnan enthralled the world with her best-selling novels and paintings. After her long life dedicated to the arts, she passed away yesterday in Paris at the age of 96. Her death was confirmed by her partner Simone Fattal, who is yet to confirm the cause.
Etal Adnan’s masterpieces and artistic passion earned her international acclaim, making her one of the greatest artists of her time.
Jack Lang, Director of the Arab World Institute in Paris, expresses his grief at the passing of the great Etel Adnan…
I learned of Etel Adnan’s departure with profound regret. This beautiful, colorful literary spirit who portrayed our pain, pleasure, and love.
Jack Lang, Director of the Arab World Institute in Paris via Proiqra
She was a rare and complete artist of blazing talent and amazing intelligence. This extraordinary traveler made us tremble at the daring rhymes coming from across the Mediterranean.
Jack Lang, Director of the Arab World Institute in Paris via Proiqra
On February 24, 1925, the phenomenal artist was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a Greek mother and a Syrian father. Within Lebanon, she witnessed a resurgence of intellectual and artistic forces that highly inspired her.
At the age of fourteen, she travelled to Paris to study literature and philosophy at Sorbonne University, and then returned to the United States to further her education.
“Sitt Marie Rose,” one of her top bestsellers and an acclaimed regarded novel, was published in 1978. This is based on a true story of a kidnapping that occurred during Lebanon’s civil war, and it is recounted from the perspective of civilians who witnessed and endured a horrific political battle. Nonetheless, it has been translated into ten languages and has become a classic of military literature.
Ms Adnan’s skill, however, did not stop with writing; she was also an ambitious and lavish painter who stunned the world with her unique perspective.
Adnan’s artwork was featured in a 2012 show in Kassel, Germany.
Ms Adnan’s Leporellos, a set of books that merged her drawings, bits of color, and Arabic words and numbers, drew a lot of attention. Her paintings were primarily distinguished by their serenity, tranquillity, and proclivity to show human nature, as they began to express life, love, and purity.
Ms Adnan was clearly a revolutionary artist who achieved international acclaim for her distinct perspective and innovative approach to writing. Her novels communicated ideas directly to a wide spectrum of audiences who were captivated by her words. Furthermore, her paintings demonstrated how true beauty and simplicity may merge to express sensations that we were previously unaware of. The world has lost an incredible human being who dedicated her life to her passion and vision.
