Mathqaf is pleased to introduce Gilbert Loutfi. Born in Beirut in 1980, Loutfi studied interior design and fine arts at the Lebanese University institute of fine arts. He made his career in architecture and design, and developed skills in fine arts such as painting and sculpture. Loutfi undertook a variety of  projects in Lebanon and the Gulf region, and participated in local and international exhibitions in Saatchi Art, Artmajeur, and JAG, amongst others.

Mathqaf: Nice to meet you! Who are you?

Loutfi: One’s identity is an essential backbone to their work. Thus, my roots as a Middle Eastern man define me in its oriental aspects, my passion to continuously improve myself and catch up with what’s new out there define another side of my contemporary up-to-date nature. My hard work and efforts propelled me to travel the world and study the different cultures and fine-tune my techniques. Therefore, I am a Lebanese architect that accentuates orientalism with a modern twist in his creations.

Mathqaf: Where and what did you study? 

Loutfi: In 1999 I enrolled at the Lebanese University school of fine arts and earned a degree in Interior Design and Fine arts in the year of 2004. Furthermore, I attended multiple workshops including mosaic works, wood and gypsum carvings, painting media with the most recent one being L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in France. 

Mathqaf: Can you tell us about your practice?  

Loutfi: I worked with a variety of media including oil, acrylic, charcoal, and aquarelle. With sculptures, I am accustomed to creating artwork from construction-site leftovers, sustainable materials, and virtually anything that crosses my path, such as a broken marble stone from renovating a house. 

Mathqaf: How do you work? 

Loutfi: My approach depends on one of two main components. I either am inspired by tangible or visual elements that push me to create a piece or a concept that devours my perception of things coming to life in the form of a painting or sculpture. 

Mathqaf: What do you listen to when you work? 

Loutfi: “Silence is a true friend that never betrays” – Confucius. The pieces I am most proud of stem from a breeze of silence where I am entirely focused on what I’m working on without any background noise to cut the flow of a creation coming to life. For that reason, my studio is in a quiet town in the mountains of Lebanon. 

Mathqaf: What themes do you pursue? 

Loutfi: The main theme of particular interest of mine comes from Middle Eastern and oriental carpet craftsmanship. This fine era of artwork is underrepresented and underrated. Therefore, a large percentage of my work focuses on incorporating items from this phase and creating a textile museum to celebrate them. 

Mathqaf: What work do you most enjoy doing? 

Loutfi: Painting. Painting has no boundaries and no limits. It is timeless and relies heavily on the free spirit of the artists and the mental zone they’re in while at it. 

Mathqaf: How has your practice changed over time? 

Loutfi: As with every newbie, it started out with idealizing and following the footsteps of the big names that established the field, such as Monet, Chardin, Saliba Doueihy… With time, I evolved my own sense of identity, style, and technique portrayed by my current creations. 

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

Loutfi:  Despite the several downfalls the country and the region had to face in the recent period, the one I felt to be most personal was the demolition of historical houses in Lebanon, as well as the region destroyed by acts of war, such as bombings or governmental poor decision making. This has pushed me to create work and patterns inspired by the heritage they portrayed, creating a documentation that cannot be abolished.

Mathqaf: What is your dream project?

Loutfi:  Unfortunately, the fourth of August 2020 left a hard sting on me as it did on all the Lebanese people. I was fortunate enough to be safe. However, the gallery I owned for the last four years was heavily damaged. My dream is to come back stronger and bigger with the hopes of owning a gallery abroad that can feature my work, and the work of international artists I see myself in. 

Mathqaf: What do you do outside your practice? 

Loutfi:  I am fortunate enough to live in an area where I can enjoy a good book in its calm environment. In my spare time, I make sure to exercise at least 4 times a week, watch an interesting movie, and keep up with my close circle of friends. 

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

Loutfi:  It gives me a sense of fulfillment, especially when I get collectors’ feedback which pushes me to work harder on developing myself while holding on to a sense of attainment. The visions I undertake to establish a work of art are endless. 

Check out Loutfi’s Instagram here.