SUZAN EBU SAID

Beirut- Maya Fares, President of Takween Association of Arts, addresses women’s issues by drawing and painting on porcelain and canvas. She learned this art from skilled Lebanese professors and then participated in workshops held in France, London, Italy, Portugal, and several other countries to improve herself in this art. She has begun teaching this art to others, especially women. “This art allows you to think positively and to gain financial independence.”

Maya Fares uses different techniques for each peace. “I have different ideas to paint on porcelains. For example, I wrote Lebanon on a cup and designed it. We have already started a special collection for Christmas. We draw different designs on plates that can be used for decoration. I have combined classical and contemporary art in my artwork. My first exhibition was in 2013. I developed my talent by taking lessons from skilled Lebanese professors and then went abroad, especially France, to learn about contemporary art and visited many museums to learn more.”

‘I want to shed light on the challenges faced by women’

Maya Fares addresses many issues, especially women’s issues, in her artwork. “I am interested in women’s issues because I am a woman. I want to shed light on the challenges faced by women. I try to express the pressure and challenges faced by women in my artwork. One of my paintings includes roses, although they are beautiful, they have thorns representing the obstacles faced by women. I painted on porcelain about the Beirut port explosion. I painted the ruins of houses and buildings.”

Drawing courses

Speaking about the challenges faced by her, Maya Fares said, “The most important challenges faced by us is the economic crisis. Another one is electricity. Firing a kiln requires high electrical energy. The voltage of power generation is not enough to fire a kiln. The cost of raw materials, such as plates, cups, statues, etc. is also a challenge faced by us.”

Maya Fares is currently holding three training courses. One of them is about the art of knitting and one is about drawing and painting porcelains. The third one is for younger age groups to teach them the basics techniques of drawing.