Mathqaf is pleased to present Eliana El Morr, a Beirut-based artist. She is a bold and curios artist that sees art as an ‘ideology’ and a ‘belief’, not just as a canvas or a sculpture. For her, art has the ability to spread and build the infrastructures of a society. That is why El Morr is always focusing on social art, psychological and philosophical subjects that need to be challenged and surpassed generally and specifically in the ‘Middle East’ (West Asia). She holds a master degree from the Lebanese University and has exhibited at five different galleries.

Mathqaf: Nice to meet you! Who are you?

Eliana: I’m a creature classified as human, 25 years of searching and exploring who am I and who are the others, what is tangible and what I can discover of the intangible part of the universe.

Mathqaf: Where and what did you study?

Eliana: I’ve studied Visual Arts at the Lebanese University, I have a Bachelor in Fine Arts and I also have a Guitar degree from the Lebanese National Superior Conservatory of Music.

Mathqaf: Can you tell us about your practice?

Eliana: As a Lebanese citizen I find it hard to answer, we are passing through tough times, in this environment a steady practice is almost unattainable. To me the only stable thing in this unstable place are my artworks, my positive craziness and my constant care for my students and ensuring to provide them art and culture. I concentrate a lot on research in my process.

Mathqaf: How do you work?

Eliana: I don’t have a specific way to how I work, but the sure thing in my works is that always the concept leads to the progression of the artwork and the visual and not otherwise. To me the idea and how I present the artwork is the important thing and what make the work valuable.

Mathqaf: What do you listen to when you work?

Eliana: Usually when I work I like to focus on my own thoughts, and if I want to hear music I choose music that fit my artwork mood.

Mathqaf: What themes do you pursue?

Eliana: For me art has the ability to spread and build the infrastructures of a society. That’s why I’m always focusing on social art, psychological and philosophical subjects that need to be challenged and surpassed generally and specifically in the Middle East.

Mathqaf: What work do you most enjoy doing?

Eliana: I mostly enjoy the preparation part for the artwork. For example, I like to do live statistics with people to prepare for my artworks.

Mathqaf: How has your practice changed over time?  

Eliana: Moving forward is the key to success, even if it was slow. I am not afraid of using the materials in new innovative way and that’s what makes my work stand out.

Mathqaf: Can you describe a real-life situation that inspired you?

Eliana: As an artist I focus on the social taboo subjects, that’s why every second I live in this world is enough to be a potent material for my artworks, we are bombarded with crime against the citizens, explosions, unachieved human rights, people suiciding due to economic crash, violence against woman, inequality between genders, kids homeless on the street…..

Mathqaf: What is your dream project?

Eliana: One of my artworks is titled ‘coin of equality’, I’m certain that one day will be implemented on a large scale. My vision is to achieve equality through this currency.

Mathqaf: What do you do outside your practice?

Eliana: To me art is not a job, art is a life style and a mental state. For this reasons when I’m not working, I practice in an acting workshop, in dancing and camping activities. Plus I like to spend time with my friends and do fun activities.

Mathqaf: Lastly, why do you do what you do?

Eliana: Because this is me, and this is what I do.

Check out Elaina’ Instagram profile here.