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An Article by CJ (517 words, 3 min. read)
At Mark Hachem Gallery, and until November 24, George Merheb presents through his Manifesto of Transmutationa vision of creation as perpetual motion, a poetic dialogue between drawing, collage, and sculpture. Nothing here remains still; Every form evolves, every gesture becomes another. Through this visual metamorphosis, Merheb reflects on the essential rhythm of existence: the way life continually reinvents itself. His universe, populated by stylized animals, flowers, and plants, transcends representation to reveal the invisible pulse that connects all living things. It is a meditation on growth, renewal, and the silent continuity that unites spirit and matter.
From Line to Matter
Merheb’s creative process unfolds as a precise choreography of transformation. It begins with the purity of drawing, a spontaneous breath that captures the essence of movement. Collage follows, introducing fragmentation and reconstruction, where cut paper and vibrant color give form to the energy of becoming. In the final stage, metal takes over, giving weight and permanence to what was once ephemeral. Each stage preserves traces of the one before it: the delicacy of the sketch, the rhythm of the collage, the solidity of the sculpture. The result is more than a progression. It is a cycle, a visible continuum of thought and transformation.
The Message: Art as a Reflection of Life
At the heart of Merheb’s work lies a profound message, that creation mirrors the human journey. Just as forms mutate and evolve, so do human lives, guided by change, experience, and resilience. His animals and flowers are not mere subjects; They are metaphors of growth and renewal. The bull’s strength, the cat’s grace, the flower’s fragility; each becomes a symbol of an emotional state, a resounding of the transitions we endure. Through this constant passage from one material state to another, Merheb reminds us that existence is never static. Transformation is not destruction; it is the affirmation of life’s continuity.
The Theater of Transmutation
The gallery itself has been conceived as an extension of the artist’s vision. Under the refined curational direction of Mark Hachem, the space becomes a theater of metamorphosis. Light plays an essential role, shifting across metal surfaces and animating the silhouettes that emerge from them. Shadows expand and contract, creating new dimensions and dialogues between wall and sculpture. Each work interacts with its reflection, suggesting the duality between being and becoming. This scenographic approach transforms the exhibition into a living composition, a space where light, form, and viewer coexist in motion.
The Eternal Cycle of Creation
In Manifesto of TransmutationGeorge Merheb redefines creation as an act of continuity rather than completion. Every line, surface, and shadow speaks of transformation, the eternal passage from idea to matter, from matter to light. His message is clear: to create is to live, and to live is to transform. Through his poetic vision and meticulous craftsmanship, he offers not objects to be observed, but states of being to be experienced. The exhibition stands as a tribute to the beauty of change, the resilience of form, and the infinite capacity of life to reinvent itself. It is a reminder that the essence of art, like existence itself, lies in the grace of becoming.
