tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23188456561750691862024-02-21T04:28:42.861+02:00Tarek Chemaly's ArchivesTarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.comBlogger2200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-11242762486870761132015-12-05T08:30:00.002+02:002015-12-05T08:30:25.358+02:00No ends, only middles. A blog migrates.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7nwuQBklKQ9f3FL_g9S1SbhbEZSqUlY3P9fScIBPstPr0PH9De6nUM2ZJhh-S8K10xhJ6wu3YAZXeuNN609iq_hMO0iHcxHNih7l7WucbgaKJyVu1Qvoov9F3dXjZ96-tB73BhCu0Lsz/s1600/Tarek+Chemaly.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7nwuQBklKQ9f3FL_g9S1SbhbEZSqUlY3P9fScIBPstPr0PH9De6nUM2ZJhh-S8K10xhJ6wu3YAZXeuNN609iq_hMO0iHcxHNih7l7WucbgaKJyVu1Qvoov9F3dXjZ96-tB73BhCu0Lsz/s320/Tarek+Chemaly.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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It’s who first thought the thought. You’re searching, Joe,</div>
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For things that don’t exist; I mean beginnings.</div>
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Ends and beginnings—there are no such things.</div>
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There are only middles.”</div>
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<a href="http://www.bartleby.com/119/5.html" target="_blank">Robert Frost</a></div>
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Thank you for having followed me here all of you for a bit less than nine years. If you want more, please go <a href="http://www.tarekchemaly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-92160361258907442982015-12-04T07:28:00.000+02:002015-12-04T07:28:40.115+02:00Porsche Design restyles the hooka/shisha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyQ2CHhKzd7eAZTtdrOka60Fu2H3ElzJ3srb08CpYKuSj6kUAyANNcq8bkoqUfTQWbzAj9ATfqm99b3iTevrUTz5FZ8gh9P7PpEJhVUO4XcbwLQW25OIDC9I0rD1EQzfvsSYsEdyUJ52L/s1600/20151201_102513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyQ2CHhKzd7eAZTtdrOka60Fu2H3ElzJ3srb08CpYKuSj6kUAyANNcq8bkoqUfTQWbzAj9ATfqm99b3iTevrUTz5FZ8gh9P7PpEJhVUO4XcbwLQW25OIDC9I0rD1EQzfvsSYsEdyUJ52L/s320/20151201_102513.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I heard the remark before, this is not a rebranding, nor is it a repackaging, neither a redesign when a product is simply restyled. Which is what Porsche Design did to the Shisha/Hookah. Is it a beautiful object? By heavens yes. But it still gives you cancer - albeit if you can afford to buy it you probably have premium insurance. This is not something to entrust a delivery arguileh (those scooter driving boys who go and deliver shishas all over town) with, but well, if you want to die, might as well do it in style and put a<a href="http://www.maxim.com/tech/gadgets/article/2250-porsche-hookah-you-never-knew-you-needed" target="_blank"> high price tag on it</a>.</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-18474776743792556962015-12-03T08:00:00.000+02:002015-12-03T08:00:07.250+02:00Patchi goes Jeff Koons for Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTK0Y2ZU1YEk8lMCOu7A4S2SIiNOBDI9MIurJXM5Cg1OEC8t8cs__xAhxekjAI0_gk1-hKgKJXxm9SidVHvBEN2qSjWNrxuB5Q4Ds871AG24AjJVsg-wHFI_bP-6TljmLeEvJbnul57sd/s1600/20151201_172730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTK0Y2ZU1YEk8lMCOu7A4S2SIiNOBDI9MIurJXM5Cg1OEC8t8cs__xAhxekjAI0_gk1-hKgKJXxm9SidVHvBEN2qSjWNrxuB5Q4Ds871AG24AjJVsg-wHFI_bP-6TljmLeEvJbnul57sd/s320/20151201_172730.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Patchi has gone<a href="http://www.jeffkoons.com/sites/default/files/artwork-images/cel14_sm5.jpg" target="_blank"> Jeff Koons</a> for their Christmas windowshop. Ever the upscale boutique Patchi manages to inject a dash of panache in their decorations, this Christmas is a prime example of that.</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-82146022827695640162015-12-02T08:09:00.001+02:002015-12-02T08:58:55.437+02:00Jaguar XF so cliche proof it hurts!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQn4MTCY26oS9tR8tJHQEOq1vIWsfMuasGsyvwju2lZ9eVJX4YmOpA7nF1fYCW0kMXcA2xvQ2SotS6mZzz-cOOkKZ5JIgAb59xe7AGGqW0pgAJp1GFm5hc2L1UcPYwYpbRvWAoSsfmuo4/s1600/XF+cliche+proof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQn4MTCY26oS9tR8tJHQEOq1vIWsfMuasGsyvwju2lZ9eVJX4YmOpA7nF1fYCW0kMXcA2xvQ2SotS6mZzz-cOOkKZ5JIgAb59xe7AGGqW0pgAJp1GFm5hc2L1UcPYwYpbRvWAoSsfmuo4/s320/XF+cliche+proof.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh my, color me impressed! The Jaguar XF ad is beautiful simply because it plays as a pastiche for the ads for such cars in that segment. Look at the marvel <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jaguar/videos/10153061568890880/" target="_blank">here</a>, and be warned it includes every "creative" idea about high-powered people you could cram in an ad (the business lunch, the motivational speaker, the city trader, the business-deal in a gym class and so on!) - in a different context it could have been a regular ad for cars in the same segment. You know the type, the ad's copy goes and by God we know the type! We've seen it in hundreds of ads, the "man of the year" corny man that middle executives aspire to, the braggers, the egocentrics, the high-power borkers with their imagined sterile life, their trophy wives and sexy secretaries. Except Jaguar plays this so suavely because XF is "cliché proof". Teehee, funny as hell!<br />
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/Jaguar/videos/10153061568890880/">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jaguar/videos/10153061568890880/">XF TVC 60sec</a><br />
It's time for something new, something cliché proof. This is not business as usual. This is the all-new Jaguar XF. See Jaguar's luxury business saloon in our exclusive film, or find out more about the all-new XF here: http://bit.ly/1Ewvkvi<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jaguar/">Jaguar</a> on Monday, October 19, 2015</blockquote>
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Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-1284731002490631712015-11-30T09:19:00.001+02:002015-11-30T09:19:38.482+02:00On why my respect goes to L'Armoire De Lana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKot4cAaCMAn1Pm6YULHudwTWuEV1vnk3idRRmnuXzW9_o8eL3rwD3n1yXVNqGuc_nRWQ4gjiua2xt9tMnnlyv_5loUj1PrlG3SjX8zdrkRBcvEaWE8RyeVZxAI-zE1gWN8eosvUSplocn/s1600/WEB-LOGO%252BUPDATEDTYPO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKot4cAaCMAn1Pm6YULHudwTWuEV1vnk3idRRmnuXzW9_o8eL3rwD3n1yXVNqGuc_nRWQ4gjiua2xt9tMnnlyv_5loUj1PrlG3SjX8zdrkRBcvEaWE8RyeVZxAI-zE1gWN8eosvUSplocn/s320/WEB-LOGO%252BUPDATEDTYPO.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
So it is now "<a href="http://www.mediasource.me/index.php?file=story/story&story_id=204" target="_blank">official</a>", l'Armoire de Lana is in the top 10 of fashion bloggers in the Middle East. Mind you every other girl who has a skirt in her closet calls herself a fashion blogger, a brand ambassador (I was asked to be a brand a brand ambassador just for attending an event - a non-fashion one mind you), they claim to be doing "collaborations" while they are simply wearing clothes (no more, no less, this is not a collaboration - this is mercantilism), etc.... Lana herself got attacked by another blogger (although she might not be aware of it) when she said she was "founder of l'armoire de Lana" and "content provider" (I measure my words as I have seen the tweet that attacks her!).<br />
Please note, apart from an archaic tweet conversation with Lana, I do not know her personally, nor for that matter her so-called "competitors" (which they are not). And if I am writing this today, it is from what I specialize in - the marketing/branding/image angle. Once more, in the crowded field of blogging where everyone is aiming for the same target audience, it is difficult to make a stand. And no, the "age" of the blog does not matter a lot, because after some point no matter how "popular" you are on Facebook (or paid to buy fans or whatever) if there is no interesting content your audience dwindles down.<br />
Also let it be known, when bloggers move to an independent platform (i.e. their own blog) I am not impressed with the results, and sadly in that respect, I am not a big fan of her site (PS: I told her before, if her website is in English why is the "presse" section title is in French), but you see, most blog audiences come from the "here and the now" and if anyone wants something from the archive they will use Google to get to it without resorting to the "sections" (Fun fact: This is how Google was invented when the founders were creating a search engine which would let them look for their own references as they wrote their thesis).<br />
So why am I writing this? Because Lana turned herself into a brand. Which is no mean feat in a field where everyone is vying for attention. Yes, I can see people now saying, "Oh if I had her money and connections I could have done much more" - really? How come not every society girl is blogging tastefully about fashion then? "If I was invited to the Paris Fashion Week like her, my reviews would be better", seriously? NY Times critic reviewed the Saint Laurent collection all while being banned from attending the show by Hedi Slimane, so the attendance itself could be superfluous, but still if attendance there is, how many can secure a selfie with the lead designer of a fashion house such as Lana did.<br />
She did this all while remaining above the fray, she just does her own thing and does not go into the "she said" "she said" thing which is rampant in the blogosphere in Lebanon. Here's a hint, Lana managed to secure a sure footing in a very competitive field, she knows her strengths and capitalizes on them, she turned her name into a sure brand (styling Nancy Ajram, doing windows for ABC, cresting a shoe collection for Poise design), she did that all while remaining the sweet attainable girl next door (I once saw her shopping in downtown Beirut and even if I did not approach her, I really felt I could have and that she would have met me with that charming smile she flashes frequently in her photos).<br />
Making a brand is tough, creating one that lasts is even tougher, still Lana did this with charm, grace and elegance. Honestly, what's there not to love?</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-39505837318123430602015-11-28T13:29:00.001+02:002015-11-28T13:29:09.491+02:00B-Qa de Marsyas the genius of naming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74avuWtymm1IjRs1QE_d19K84soS8OofnlDtYj714OQ6h-npmtJ8BS_9A_ca3zEHvDRiKMTLaf34tbIYp4ZTaDNcZr4pQgiy17yxoojiM2ExYV600_vmNuxS77bf_y_4TtcKLpgHPWXiA/s1600/B-QA+de+Marsyas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74avuWtymm1IjRs1QE_d19K84soS8OofnlDtYj714OQ6h-npmtJ8BS_9A_ca3zEHvDRiKMTLaf34tbIYp4ZTaDNcZr4pQgiy17yxoojiM2ExYV600_vmNuxS77bf_y_4TtcKLpgHPWXiA/s320/B-QA+de+Marsyas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Out of nowhere comes a beautiful surprise! For a long time wine advertising was synonymous with earth tone colors, boring as hell names, etc, etc... Then Ixsir broke the mold, and now Chateau Marsyas is calling its new offspring B-Qa should you not get the funkyness it is simply a rappel of the Bequa'a valley where vineyards are grown. Oh and if you think it is an easy name, how come no one came up with it before?</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-34378242326814751042015-11-25T11:29:00.000+02:002015-11-25T11:45:03.377+02:00Abaad the anti-Vileda ad from Lowe Pimo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8anKWxVqmgg5yAddXU8e71DMUv1Lm6zCag1a6XMwBgGiMxjAyCCx_lXf0_JtgGvJThHgiLhu6Igfmw3BqTwkQqJ0LRz6PeOK78j6pXODKRbF5-AyxgLe65BDjIHtzKLxP8RN7CLzdPSO/s1600/Abaad+ad+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8anKWxVqmgg5yAddXU8e71DMUv1Lm6zCag1a6XMwBgGiMxjAyCCx_lXf0_JtgGvJThHgiLhu6Igfmw3BqTwkQqJ0LRz6PeOK78j6pXODKRbF5-AyxgLe65BDjIHtzKLxP8RN7CLzdPSO/s320/Abaad+ad+1.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<a href="http://beirutntsc.blogspot.com/2015/11/vileda-when-stereotype-is-appropriated.html" target="_blank">Remember that silly misogynistic ad from Vileda</a>? Thankfully Lowe Pimo are more enlightened than that. The Abaad NGO for women's rights has this beautiful ad above "men are for politics, women for logistics - Say who?" (or for brooming) shows how had women are treated through popular sayings. The "badda maw2ef" signature doubles as both "needs a strong stand" and "needs a parking" something they used in the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23FBVt0l1Gc&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Parking for men only</a>" TV ad. The campaign for parking reminded me of this one by <a href="http://www.05amam.org/pics/campaign_sects/parking_en.jpg" target="_blank">05 Amam</a> but in a different context. But the Lowe Pimo effort for Abaad is laudable following fiascos such as Vileda!</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-45553627575717327352015-11-25T09:24:00.003+02:002015-11-25T09:24:38.101+02:00Smurfette doing things behind Papa Smurf's back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DkLB4mw9he6wOJP0fq_Dk2Ql-PlMiN6u5_P0Z69h7QAJIYjDcoDDcdTG1PIhbDV4Z79MalFxKgp9JJissXv3C8_j2cY4V2nJ7K_9-PT6gDTuwPdXTxpmXvqnaoOuuBQb9FF7DpMGmEzf/s1600/20151124_122855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DkLB4mw9he6wOJP0fq_Dk2Ql-PlMiN6u5_P0Z69h7QAJIYjDcoDDcdTG1PIhbDV4Z79MalFxKgp9JJissXv3C8_j2cY4V2nJ7K_9-PT6gDTuwPdXTxpmXvqnaoOuuBQb9FF7DpMGmEzf/s320/20151124_122855.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Smurfette has been caught doing things behind Papa Smurf's back and in Maameltein, Lebanon, no less (locals will understand the insinuation!). Smoking shisha or hookah that is!.... Kids these days!!</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-53278104295630682322015-11-23T15:34:00.001+02:002015-11-23T15:34:23.781+02:00This is a detailed list of people's demands in Lebanon!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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No, we do not want a new president.<br />
No, we do not want the government to be functional.<br />
No, we do not 24 hour electricity.<br />
No, we do not want running water.<br />
No, we do not want the corruption to stop.<br />
No, etc....<br />
Diab seems to sum up all our requests as a Lebanese populace in one central, defining, summarizing sentence: The people wants Christmas ornaments.<br />
There. In addition the ad assumes Santa Claus speaks Arabic, is Lebanese and speaks on our behalf.<br />
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Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-91990757361553389822015-11-22T08:33:00.000+02:002015-11-22T08:33:43.055+02:00Exotica strikes a masterpiece for Christmas.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTR9Ek_uuZQ0roc64mmYTmodLKm2DXSkY7eG_fsMkXYkGJxiEeEdP9RyLHiuDin3E4bDx31jnRsLC2PRSagC6wd2AS2APHhas_BHY83dyRvtSjw9bRtuG5P4xsoKRh0mx32D1P0s2hjnnv/s1600/12063729_981511818553854_755608867515701917_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTR9Ek_uuZQ0roc64mmYTmodLKm2DXSkY7eG_fsMkXYkGJxiEeEdP9RyLHiuDin3E4bDx31jnRsLC2PRSagC6wd2AS2APHhas_BHY83dyRvtSjw9bRtuG5P4xsoKRh0mx32D1P0s2hjnnv/s320/12063729_981511818553854_755608867515701917_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
First, let me say I am not a hard line Christian nor do I believe that Jesus was born on December 25th, still this is a good advertising for Exotica who found the wisdom to go back to basics without trying to please all Lebanese including non-Christian ones and therefore end up with bland ads as in the years prior. The ad speak for itself and the headline "Happy 2015th birthday" reminds me of the oh-so-forgotten Benetton ad "si en l'an un Benetton existait, les rois mages n'auraient pas hesite" (if Benetton existed in year one the Magi kings would not have hesitated). An all-round triumph for Exotica this year, long may it continue!</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-61389222909357388202015-11-21T20:41:00.003+02:002015-11-21T20:41:32.487+02:00Sohat independence ad - no, really!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOrIjk_On2fBOUXl3uAnPC_OGiHbOwEUzYSclGge1NCLDZXcV58c05WpHnI_TT0e8Ceteu_V8tpqevTDhEu761Kc4EYfF9Qn8cvTOW4NIt4MMfcvUFug3EOpXdl2W4xBEG9nrInhPCIOX/s1600/Sohat+-+independence+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOrIjk_On2fBOUXl3uAnPC_OGiHbOwEUzYSclGge1NCLDZXcV58c05WpHnI_TT0e8Ceteu_V8tpqevTDhEu761Kc4EYfF9Qn8cvTOW4NIt4MMfcvUFug3EOpXdl2W4xBEG9nrInhPCIOX/s320/Sohat+-+independence+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sohat has a nice independence day ad, not as good a Pepsi but a nice one still. It plays on the lyrics of the national anthem substituting "to the height to the flag" with "from the height to the flag" since Sohat supposedly comes from the high source up in the mountains. Now here's my million Dollar question: <a href="http://beirutntsc.blogspot.com/2013/08/sohat-and-raymond-weil-un-air-de-famille.html" target="_blank">Who is Sohat talking to</a>?</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-45055150433181898472015-11-21T18:24:00.000+02:002015-11-21T18:24:14.982+02:00Pepsi - the only good independence day ad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltqyx-VypPKmzGhRNP70GRaEAqbamMbsK7hQunulHOn2aXs8jH4fMbuT-oTDcsXPPUXk0Bcn-nWZyBAImrC-4oOlUTncN6y0wLrpql4pYi2AGeM4UNibxp9j-LTeOM8MQ-ZhlE99vrIdg/s1600/20151121_150147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltqyx-VypPKmzGhRNP70GRaEAqbamMbsK7hQunulHOn2aXs8jH4fMbuT-oTDcsXPPUXk0Bcn-nWZyBAImrC-4oOlUTncN6y0wLrpql4pYi2AGeM4UNibxp9j-LTeOM8MQ-ZhlE99vrIdg/s320/20151121_150147.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Independence day is tomorrow and everyone is jumping on its bandwagon and falling flat on their face. Which is why it was refreshing to see this - orphan - Pepsi ad (in front of spinney's on Debayeh - correct me if you know of another one). It simply says "from the independence days" with the old bottle of Pepsi which was reissued a few years back to celebrate.... err, forgot what! I am not here to fact check if Pepsi was in Lebanon in 1943 (the year of so-called independence) but at least it makes sense one you take off the stupid #meshghalat thing.</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-34928139461404126292015-11-21T17:37:00.000+02:002015-11-21T17:37:33.626+02:00Gala reuses the same headlines I used a year ago! :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdgI9TdHAAqMHYXjhvGn5s8X7zSCeMob9bJ6Qwr01DNeWsKYH8Of2cYlOrPequMrTqq3sqg8wSqECmSsYRh29t2neDtGFi2dkmUO0guDpFZjAIE28fC4F8GqYql6RiFKCiFOsW7yJESmd/s1600/Aux+larmes+citoyens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdgI9TdHAAqMHYXjhvGn5s8X7zSCeMob9bJ6Qwr01DNeWsKYH8Of2cYlOrPequMrTqq3sqg8wSqECmSsYRh29t2neDtGFi2dkmUO0guDpFZjAIE28fC4F8GqYql6RiFKCiFOsW7yJESmd/s320/Aux+larmes+citoyens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
"<a href="http://beirutntsc.blogspot.com/2014/07/aux-larmes-citoyens-one-sided-love-from.html" target="_blank">Aux larmes citoyens</a>" a line I blogged about but used on twitter even earlier is now the headline of the French magazine Gala for their tribute for the Parisian terrorism. I am glad I got the idea earlier than anyone even if at the time I was talking about how difficult it was to get a visa to France, now almost impossible I guess.</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-50093283727901432202015-11-20T19:05:00.001+02:002015-11-20T19:05:33.661+02:00Bowie written in the (black)stars!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c38hvIYHUbw2EbrYp47rOMHcrwT0-QyW_8JrLuwZyby_thyphenhyphen0fwaCivfmm-1WxNaJTVCCKOysg_uCeNmr-p5o5h1fw8A75vaU6UulkMISiVF9Ef_0JWAohshFIGcMKxjwbBadQhpD-T8Z/s1600/Darkstar+-+Bowie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c38hvIYHUbw2EbrYp47rOMHcrwT0-QyW_8JrLuwZyby_thyphenhyphen0fwaCivfmm-1WxNaJTVCCKOysg_uCeNmr-p5o5h1fw8A75vaU6UulkMISiVF9Ef_0JWAohshFIGcMKxjwbBadQhpD-T8Z/s320/Darkstar+-+Bowie.png" width="320" /></a></div>
David Bowie has released a new single from his forthcoming album. Called Blackstar, the song has an art design featured above. What struck me is how minimalistic the whole thing is. A black star to indicate the song's name and underneath the letters "B-O-W-I-E" written underneath in a star-shaped typography. Beautiful is an understatement!</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-22282158221015952612015-11-20T10:34:00.003+02:002015-11-20T10:34:32.947+02:00Call me unpatriotic but the national anthem as ringing tone annoys me.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_ZCZpMRtQx9EEleorXKOFrbLZu4zTyy889NpGqh_V65hrwY-cb0_hpKozR3Q6LatkOujeOAh4_scKrNjnjW4jSV6lGSCN_ymkVWqzf5SGiG0lPpnSB47AjzeMR6f80SMkltYNDBTV-FI/s1600/548329_390407254357655_85360038_n1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_ZCZpMRtQx9EEleorXKOFrbLZu4zTyy889NpGqh_V65hrwY-cb0_hpKozR3Q6LatkOujeOAh4_scKrNjnjW4jSV6lGSCN_ymkVWqzf5SGiG0lPpnSB47AjzeMR6f80SMkltYNDBTV-FI/s320/548329_390407254357655_85360038_n1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image <a href="https://everitte.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/548329_390407254357655_85360038_n1.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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So my mother has a new ringing tone.<br />
My friend has a new ringing tone.<br />
The head of our department has a new ringing tone.<br />
Whenever I tried calling anyone on mobile today, be it on touch or Alfa, the same ringing tone came.<br />
I was like - what is happening? Why does everyone have the national anthem on ringing tone? Until, dumb as I am I figured out it was our national carriers celebrating the independence holiday by imposing this on all phones.<br />
Call me unpatriotic, it is irritating. It takes the dignity out of the anthem - which like it or not - does have dignity. It makes it banal. And frankly it makes it irritating. I do not want to hear the same strophes repeatedly when I am anxious to speak to a client, or want to see how a friend is doing.<br />
Hey, if you really want to celebrate independence dear touch and Alfa how about scarpping 22% (because of November 22nd connotation - our independence day) from my bill or better, 43% because had our independence in 1943? Food for thought!</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-80117142913593601632015-11-20T10:07:00.001+02:002015-11-20T10:07:31.840+02:00Souq.com black Friday white Friday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIY58mV2W1VReWYBNeyj72SKZhnDGtNLOMaRoZgEo9YztMJd5Abd2m2SX6IqxjAk-v1xV1q1HNHNkkgvFbprSTOCI2T46vXr3OJ0XXmwhK8_-08ttqFQNhG7Yu-yYaAV7CydRiSj_8ajZ/s1600/White+Friday+sales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIY58mV2W1VReWYBNeyj72SKZhnDGtNLOMaRoZgEo9YztMJd5Abd2m2SX6IqxjAk-v1xV1q1HNHNkkgvFbprSTOCI2T46vXr3OJ0XXmwhK8_-08ttqFQNhG7Yu-yYaAV7CydRiSj_8ajZ/s320/White+Friday+sales.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So in the Arab region we have so many bastardized concepts, we mix and match festivities and appropriate signifiers from different cultures as our own. So why not Black Friday as well. Except, how can you sell a "black" Friday. No, it would be dark, pessimistic and superstitious. So souq.com found an easy trick, make white! They are holding a major sale from 25 till 28th of November under the umbrella of "white Friday", I mean seriously between white and black, there's no difference. No work yet if any major supermarket chain is having offers on turkeys though....</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-53402191142891791722015-11-20T09:49:00.001+02:002015-11-20T09:49:58.847+02:00Vileda: When the stereotype is appropriated.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRfgjz9g8brqyc9m5dM_MPifogNNfUMDyEKhiexc5NY4rxRYNtxAK_VuGVxkKMcAMwGWYC5nEJ0KDJ2_865Hl3AIZL6SSqdBSDqSqh7jkIl3xSx_WvuKREr_ACIToRwP5p_S2KTdNIh8u/s1600/Vileda+women.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRfgjz9g8brqyc9m5dM_MPifogNNfUMDyEKhiexc5NY4rxRYNtxAK_VuGVxkKMcAMwGWYC5nEJ0KDJ2_865Hl3AIZL6SSqdBSDqSqh7jkIl3xSx_WvuKREr_ACIToRwP5p_S2KTdNIh8u/s320/Vileda+women.png" width="320" /></a></div>
I know this ad is old and someone else <a href="http://thejrexpress.com/2014/02/06/vileda-lebanon-but-who-should-handle-your-page-to-spare-us-from-your-sexism/" target="_blank">reviewed it before</a>. What made me remember it today is a gallery of racist, crude ads published by <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/gallery/2015/nov/18/racist-sexist-rude-crude-worst-20th-century-advertising-in-pictures" target="_blank">the Guardian</a> and necessarily thought of as belonging to the past. Is the Vileda ad which says "for Lebanon to be clean, let the women handle it" sexist? Yes. It is not-very-clever? Yes. Did it stir - for better or worse - a controversy? Yes. And that is not always good for the brand by the way contrary to the idea that "any advertising is good advertising". My problem today is elsewhere, it is when the stereotype is appropriated, would this still be sexism? Racism? Denigration?... Look at this <a href="http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/vileda-avant-premiere-for-the-movie-neswen-abc-dbayeh/avant-premiere-neswen-46.jpg" target="_blank">photo</a> taken from the Vileda sponsoring of the avant-premiere of the movie Neswen (women). The woman is proudly holding a sign which says the same thing as the ad above, flashing it proudly and smiling to the cam. She obviously agrees to the message, endorses it, and thinks the joke is funny.<br />
In this case, can we still call it sexism?<br />
If the person belonging to the cultural or gender related section being targeted by a stereotype actually wants to be part of that stereotype, can we argue over the identity belonging bit?<br />
I was accused twice of not being a feminist (actually, the second time I was accused of being a misogynic person). The first time for commenting on an ad about <a href="http://beirutntsc.blogspot.com/2010/06/chicks-rule-at-le-mall.html" target="_blank">football</a>, the second time for my artwork at my <a href="http://beirutntsc.blogspot.com/2013/05/beirutsecam-works-at-392rmeil393.html" target="_blank">Beirut/SECAM</a> exhibition where I depicted women in kitchens taken from vintage white goods catalogues.<br />
But when a woman asks a man "hey, get out of here, what are you doing in <em>my</em> kitchen?" it becomes difficult to counter the argument of appropriating that stereotype, after all, if these people want to belong and identify with how they are socially and publicly portrayed who are we to argue!</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-91182421908886577412015-11-16T10:41:00.000+02:002015-11-16T10:41:01.812+02:00Live and 5 (fingers) in their eyes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ib4wBv6fwpVfaJpXE5RiJSUUtDAQpKfsZpl8s4ouUSMiCm_jv6zF8G0I7_o-Noz9GaiP-wcA2TViGd5ZZgvZDC21cEA9shTldbWOvk2wM0HkDCdpEeKbTisS2-cVLDKnni6vyfS9qm14/s1600/3icho+w+5+bi+3younon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ib4wBv6fwpVfaJpXE5RiJSUUtDAQpKfsZpl8s4ouUSMiCm_jv6zF8G0I7_o-Noz9GaiP-wcA2TViGd5ZZgvZDC21cEA9shTldbWOvk2wM0HkDCdpEeKbTisS2-cVLDKnni6vyfS9qm14/s320/3icho+w+5+bi+3younon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork by Tarek Chemaly</td></tr>
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How best to respond to tragedy?<br />
After suffering so many of them in Lebanon the answer is simple - go live. Be happy, sad, mourn, celebrate, maybe at the same time. Go to the routine familiar places. It does not soften the pain but it shows the terrorists they cannot win over life. Work efficiently and study well, it will piss them off and show them they cannot disrupt the flow of life. The expression says "live and 5 (fingers) in their eyes" (a local one to push over the ill wishers and jealous ones!).</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-54100814560287197702015-11-15T09:14:00.000+02:002015-11-15T09:14:13.592+02:00Art, sweetened, condensed....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJeUrdDKw53tTjQj5SjZH7UYxgDSlZKtzhdheobyYmq-wsPvXl6Xlo0UKIcOYMQAwMmy1BW-yycDhqGa5vFGKJiiidJjjJlbLZlPuU92mI5sulyShNPQIhCZ7sI1V7VHoSXjfxLC_5Fw2/s1600/L%2527Alexander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJeUrdDKw53tTjQj5SjZH7UYxgDSlZKtzhdheobyYmq-wsPvXl6Xlo0UKIcOYMQAwMmy1BW-yycDhqGa5vFGKJiiidJjjJlbLZlPuU92mI5sulyShNPQIhCZ7sI1V7VHoSXjfxLC_5Fw2/s320/L%2527Alexander.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Alexander Calder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvLADEtFGokF9g_bjbkNDK4GGOI_EdIJBKcIJ9KRvlwmizrTFYeaij2jyvxEsXmLV0lhxYVUTj3cVucVhU9bLIrefHo5QQMDfCFOvrmm4k6ZNmXliI4MDEbZob89UNhSbmvFrfGMQ79AO/s1600/L%2527Andy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvLADEtFGokF9g_bjbkNDK4GGOI_EdIJBKcIJ9KRvlwmizrTFYeaij2jyvxEsXmLV0lhxYVUTj3cVucVhU9bLIrefHo5QQMDfCFOvrmm4k6ZNmXliI4MDEbZob89UNhSbmvFrfGMQ79AO/s320/L%2527Andy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Andy Warhol</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFH4fQqkamQGdO-z_RB1HN527g9wLX38XZkqBCblAznLffVWOk-umJekd45eAJF_Nuc6-Jtk7XE5Sgn37btYzWLz96i85TM_1eJM5fonG9tmVwWD4LWpGEsh1pYmxhVJLoJ4naf8Y2cL5o/s1600/L%2527ellsworth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFH4fQqkamQGdO-z_RB1HN527g9wLX38XZkqBCblAznLffVWOk-umJekd45eAJF_Nuc6-Jtk7XE5Sgn37btYzWLz96i85TM_1eJM5fonG9tmVwWD4LWpGEsh1pYmxhVJLoJ4naf8Y2cL5o/s320/L%2527ellsworth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Ellsworth Kelly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mCc-KEPJodTLTi-P4jMzqviG6nmuYbyj6KNMU4NtuxAXrnWYLGgsucckHfRfls49kSKwi9U_JjpllYd2cl7_Y_5CM88Wcl1-AIZCE2DvkmPP64lszCxZ4qOPIZJAsby_prgfInIfJtSG/s1600/L%2527Henri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mCc-KEPJodTLTi-P4jMzqviG6nmuYbyj6KNMU4NtuxAXrnWYLGgsucckHfRfls49kSKwi9U_JjpllYd2cl7_Y_5CM88Wcl1-AIZCE2DvkmPP64lszCxZ4qOPIZJAsby_prgfInIfJtSG/s320/L%2527Henri.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Henri Matisse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIaFl6bzl9wVBjPa6fBIT8wWPgtyDavWQUpXTUxoznIcHuKShylAuLQP35DEAfTSM3HKHv2HF3wtlBGYtBWeokFZneMxZSCpt3h2kGYbOopAMyV-vkVgVEBFMSgVngCGyDY5j6MzHgF-0/s1600/Le+Bridget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIaFl6bzl9wVBjPa6fBIT8wWPgtyDavWQUpXTUxoznIcHuKShylAuLQP35DEAfTSM3HKHv2HF3wtlBGYtBWeokFZneMxZSCpt3h2kGYbOopAMyV-vkVgVEBFMSgVngCGyDY5j6MzHgF-0/s320/Le+Bridget.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Bridget Reiley</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuAjPz5TgsKmnKbtOwAWCSPi72BCs01w6xsEE6zabPg9rFEajwVhigpzyOjVsKNWPPJFCU4uMCaMTU343Q7kIixC61sDW7Gu6mBmFqXWH7c2PDpIr-9EvdQPXuDgTwgwcBD2-9p3PwGNX/s1600/Le+Claude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuAjPz5TgsKmnKbtOwAWCSPi72BCs01w6xsEE6zabPg9rFEajwVhigpzyOjVsKNWPPJFCU4uMCaMTU343Q7kIixC61sDW7Gu6mBmFqXWH7c2PDpIr-9EvdQPXuDgTwgwcBD2-9p3PwGNX/s320/Le+Claude.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Claude Viallat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xErBfOyVKC8WrcrrR6T39VHjrlUqQAi6jWDQE-ElUqvllFrSE0IAwxbWrix-Cf5woOOOPgtSHZTgV_aDrPxPi3xh3suGAiPIxws76cKHQCW7xGG2ztyLS5qT05U0l9cBl2yAggB4W3lq/s1600/Le+David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xErBfOyVKC8WrcrrR6T39VHjrlUqQAi6jWDQE-ElUqvllFrSE0IAwxbWrix-Cf5woOOOPgtSHZTgV_aDrPxPi3xh3suGAiPIxws76cKHQCW7xGG2ztyLS5qT05U0l9cBl2yAggB4W3lq/s320/Le+David.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After David Hockney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBED4IkJ33TWSEtb6duOyZUnAbQ60tv36Hb9snMZGJGzhdpeaSbcl-qqg0lqlcO8kIB1ZNOEkJ1S_qITDjSNkkDVHy9QYOGXqRZ1ll1xEw9ahGMz1LKehlFZuZxSYXWdaZC1G6eGCoyTwo/s1600/Le+Jeff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBED4IkJ33TWSEtb6duOyZUnAbQ60tv36Hb9snMZGJGzhdpeaSbcl-qqg0lqlcO8kIB1ZNOEkJ1S_qITDjSNkkDVHy9QYOGXqRZ1ll1xEw9ahGMz1LKehlFZuZxSYXWdaZC1G6eGCoyTwo/s320/Le+Jeff.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Jeff Koons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhJtTmbtjJnUNkHEwYjrL2fSnSJF5Yrc0kltVXB_-S4Vc-p8sUEfF-aOaSx_CzglRD1JbX32Z0QlGl-GcaR6Nd1ocwr0otShuQ9ZeBE1WR-0WowlI6OK4gkwBKWXe-Ob55OtjXHv11sqn/s1600/Le+Josef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhJtTmbtjJnUNkHEwYjrL2fSnSJF5Yrc0kltVXB_-S4Vc-p8sUEfF-aOaSx_CzglRD1JbX32Z0QlGl-GcaR6Nd1ocwr0otShuQ9ZeBE1WR-0WowlI6OK4gkwBKWXe-Ob55OtjXHv11sqn/s320/Le+Josef.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Josef Albers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2Vp_WBULqBpUy_tqZKZ9sGhdbTJy6DNbB5Wdcl7jotC0jBQzym88sD-YxmhUI3NTOTagnurjRZL_8_rKSRYLqCZscZxB095k6SBZwNd7aNc7AXU1R1Dq2wUVHNvCYRRazEUt3KX2msEM/s1600/Le+Kasimir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2Vp_WBULqBpUy_tqZKZ9sGhdbTJy6DNbB5Wdcl7jotC0jBQzym88sD-YxmhUI3NTOTagnurjRZL_8_rKSRYLqCZscZxB095k6SBZwNd7aNc7AXU1R1Dq2wUVHNvCYRRazEUt3KX2msEM/s320/Le+Kasimir.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Kasimir Malevich</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMipwHXFlE5TrhOFbHfFNJ3V6ByKxMR5WcDig2oEHGGBs6yuljbpVVQJdjBOnYDgKk-mIFnqvgtCAz3KunY9L-2QiQ1IhTqZ4egodsSzX36g-wwPZhat5bj7YrMnRJ_NArGcZvDdkm1qy/s1600/Le+Louise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMipwHXFlE5TrhOFbHfFNJ3V6ByKxMR5WcDig2oEHGGBs6yuljbpVVQJdjBOnYDgKk-mIFnqvgtCAz3KunY9L-2QiQ1IhTqZ4egodsSzX36g-wwPZhat5bj7YrMnRJ_NArGcZvDdkm1qy/s320/Le+Louise.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Louise Bourgeois</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIhKy7nlXr1KZSh6UO7dhbYgLqN9j_V1-7yZUEjl2gpymPJcEGVU4CUZCwxhlw6sydYJ442LiQidl6AiTbuNghZccv1rFZ1FvAOC7akc8_AQoq3dIoJBlcdEMqk83-tTmXEeYyxk40dQF/s1600/Le+Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIhKy7nlXr1KZSh6UO7dhbYgLqN9j_V1-7yZUEjl2gpymPJcEGVU4CUZCwxhlw6sydYJ442LiQidl6AiTbuNghZccv1rFZ1FvAOC7akc8_AQoq3dIoJBlcdEMqk83-tTmXEeYyxk40dQF/s320/Le+Man.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Man Ray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX7PWxyXjxPdFeNYPYL7ZKOXeqcBiM1bi9zJ_uORTOuKhDSOy4ayCzSGYajWcXWBf4xeRtYhGvb4KmxgI73C4YTUi0JE5F4npsYPVU0uKyFBgd44fclrHfRyUTPCTcgghG47oWPSK3PID/s1600/Le+Marcel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX7PWxyXjxPdFeNYPYL7ZKOXeqcBiM1bi9zJ_uORTOuKhDSOy4ayCzSGYajWcXWBf4xeRtYhGvb4KmxgI73C4YTUi0JE5F4npsYPVU0uKyFBgd44fclrHfRyUTPCTcgghG47oWPSK3PID/s320/Le+Marcel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Marcel Duchamp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9rD5lZc0eS3lTsbP67tnmQeOHozrVJjnoqk1kR6_lppwZ_w57hfJuHJCZSUAL1jori68fS6KQaDir-etXHG3pn-gGNUty99tMpM1stVi0ZLm1wd13zdQBIjoPg6IadRFQiJJO-yeq-xM/s1600/Le+Mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9rD5lZc0eS3lTsbP67tnmQeOHozrVJjnoqk1kR6_lppwZ_w57hfJuHJCZSUAL1jori68fS6KQaDir-etXHG3pn-gGNUty99tMpM1stVi0ZLm1wd13zdQBIjoPg6IadRFQiJJO-yeq-xM/s320/Le+Mark.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Mark Rothko</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RHe6rlMpZGVzyY1GcdERztJ40ihdoUZmw1m1IdcEU4GeI0D9GhI8_Cl0rI9sCQNIRGnbG0NSPRtsCh6FD6oRrA8WLEp2UNbmMREl4x-6VSY6Oe6EBcD2OTaX8q6-F-F_2QcHzLWrQqzT/s1600/Le+Niki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RHe6rlMpZGVzyY1GcdERztJ40ihdoUZmw1m1IdcEU4GeI0D9GhI8_Cl0rI9sCQNIRGnbG0NSPRtsCh6FD6oRrA8WLEp2UNbmMREl4x-6VSY6Oe6EBcD2OTaX8q6-F-F_2QcHzLWrQqzT/s320/Le+Niki.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Niki de Saint Phalle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO513FdZKDI9Gp5OHLVNvmxFwN-_DUjMH_jnTdaGh5LO2nBrYLnvoQ5GMW5fCLGQJFPcrwdpHfguYXpwaobKdPO33s0vaerMcb0rFYzwMQbXUZK0x1lG5rmVmII_TaKKdfvU-DTOXe2Yc/s1600/Le+Patrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO513FdZKDI9Gp5OHLVNvmxFwN-_DUjMH_jnTdaGh5LO2nBrYLnvoQ5GMW5fCLGQJFPcrwdpHfguYXpwaobKdPO33s0vaerMcb0rFYzwMQbXUZK0x1lG5rmVmII_TaKKdfvU-DTOXe2Yc/s320/Le+Patrick.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Patrick Caulfield</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14kXHSupMHFgDdKAAWFIRQQ7W5QRiGlUaUxffvhVZPBrJ14-kDbAVr0S8YjR3E9vp9OYATZ796kBuOUZ0zcffZkkH0vu18xpy2_3KZYtDCTZW-9NoMlpdaDTOaln7vdVUat5NcukI1kJd/s1600/Le+Paul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14kXHSupMHFgDdKAAWFIRQQ7W5QRiGlUaUxffvhVZPBrJ14-kDbAVr0S8YjR3E9vp9OYATZ796kBuOUZ0zcffZkkH0vu18xpy2_3KZYtDCTZW-9NoMlpdaDTOaln7vdVUat5NcukI1kJd/s320/Le+Paul.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Paul Klee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRcJ-RZtACs6WagCyRdWhCVUs47a50ZiWT_MP06mg1hXNozwF_aTyTxOAh4y1fEeDwFelfC-Gj6kCr0PO9pRkG0KeZHZFwLp_TqsuSG1QK2MoZ12ai8qvUYuwZKBYdlLy2I_hQGvF-oS3/s1600/Le+Piet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRcJ-RZtACs6WagCyRdWhCVUs47a50ZiWT_MP06mg1hXNozwF_aTyTxOAh4y1fEeDwFelfC-Gj6kCr0PO9pRkG0KeZHZFwLp_TqsuSG1QK2MoZ12ai8qvUYuwZKBYdlLy2I_hQGvF-oS3/s320/Le+Piet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Piet Mondrian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1AiHhwQMQDZv9N__wPnAsdUT0FHCHYKEkMVFr5KHeTqcgyNbcbbWHryA_ShTZ5bv_wKazz0IbPiZzekX3efiMdcZOtsfpnDx83-uq2AxWGEQ7dxNxPnRPW6Vsq12WiXdaaeAq6ZR-5Pp/s1600/Le+Rene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1AiHhwQMQDZv9N__wPnAsdUT0FHCHYKEkMVFr5KHeTqcgyNbcbbWHryA_ShTZ5bv_wKazz0IbPiZzekX3efiMdcZOtsfpnDx83-uq2AxWGEQ7dxNxPnRPW6Vsq12WiXdaaeAq6ZR-5Pp/s320/Le+Rene.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Rene Magritte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT7RnKhlCNDrAlhwUvULY0pQr8qqO3xoyGclJUJoIg3W-H77XHJt7UosRfL_hYk7Ry3cC5dZgVgZQ7NzYwOS-XieuVwqxA0mBYqFC-eRRmDvbDRj-bsiL7_thJLLCu24U86S9jnpZdTBa/s1600/Le+Richard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT7RnKhlCNDrAlhwUvULY0pQr8qqO3xoyGclJUJoIg3W-H77XHJt7UosRfL_hYk7Ry3cC5dZgVgZQ7NzYwOS-XieuVwqxA0mBYqFC-eRRmDvbDRj-bsiL7_thJLLCu24U86S9jnpZdTBa/s320/Le+Richard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Richard Hamilton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1B-ewBFOG2u-csggUjEGPXKBbS3lk5KfX63khuLbn2vOqIezMq98ZmtPGyXEI9bXO46XQvlJESSS4N66DnPfVco7mvmKDZHqB5PF07klP_8NWPExWyFBRke_cafGPn3CsuQDOHb2DBli/s1600/Le+Roy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1B-ewBFOG2u-csggUjEGPXKBbS3lk5KfX63khuLbn2vOqIezMq98ZmtPGyXEI9bXO46XQvlJESSS4N66DnPfVco7mvmKDZHqB5PF07klP_8NWPExWyFBRke_cafGPn3CsuQDOHb2DBli/s320/Le+Roy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Roy Lichtenstein</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpWK0sBkVZI64gvDFfVpubtEi_jbKqW94BEaVE7z9EO8fFf-rVWSUMtOqk1m7ZWqB4WJGPJm6-Ea8sp0IqE7iVkqg8h3ZTHM69PxjUH9-ndMZSrMnaEdZ-PrHDoxeXSePnSwyhw6T_bhe/s1600/Le+Tracey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpWK0sBkVZI64gvDFfVpubtEi_jbKqW94BEaVE7z9EO8fFf-rVWSUMtOqk1m7ZWqB4WJGPJm6-Ea8sp0IqE7iVkqg8h3ZTHM69PxjUH9-ndMZSrMnaEdZ-PrHDoxeXSePnSwyhw6T_bhe/s320/Le+Tracey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Tracey Emin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGczQMdpXmUknYcXaE7hdmOtQAY9MWpyulkW3Kx4gvppqCNmcZaTI4n1oOHT27dvR7LRIrQRVLn1bBSeiu_rGKHEj_aVbR3TugivyOM8ZvR3vra-2pU6P8ImzNUkdSSPUA8-Cn7LZsLW4e/s1600/Le+Vassily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGczQMdpXmUknYcXaE7hdmOtQAY9MWpyulkW3Kx4gvppqCNmcZaTI4n1oOHT27dvR7LRIrQRVLn1bBSeiu_rGKHEj_aVbR3TugivyOM8ZvR3vra-2pU6P8ImzNUkdSSPUA8-Cn7LZsLW4e/s320/Le+Vassily.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Wassily Kandinsky</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4_vWZ-hBXUb8ed_xoYDJ03833QCEbRLuXioV7yVkFWYdlJollvGvcgP_9uDy_eZn4gsS35zWUKolCOG_aPE_gotGgi_LZdVyVhgq_Hp05-aeKo4FBPfAhFVEB55nDkJ4D9e1IkGtxk7j/s1600/Le+Victor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4_vWZ-hBXUb8ed_xoYDJ03833QCEbRLuXioV7yVkFWYdlJollvGvcgP_9uDy_eZn4gsS35zWUKolCOG_aPE_gotGgi_LZdVyVhgq_Hp05-aeKo4FBPfAhFVEB55nDkJ4D9e1IkGtxk7j/s320/Le+Victor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Victor Vasarely</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6It83kBUGMCTVIXDpsNK-B8v4Kq243S7OtOhpyWG5tOXv7NdHR61ITOJfgU5xW3-DoUezPZf27hmHBgICW4dtLlCm7L9fOU44K__BrU5kuXa5ngNsa6nuNsLmWIqg2Yh2al7tw-QIVSt/s1600/Le+Witt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6It83kBUGMCTVIXDpsNK-B8v4Kq243S7OtOhpyWG5tOXv7NdHR61ITOJfgU5xW3-DoUezPZf27hmHBgICW4dtLlCm7L9fOU44K__BrU5kuXa5ngNsa6nuNsLmWIqg2Yh2al7tw-QIVSt/s320/Le+Witt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Sol LeWitt</td></tr>
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All works by Tarek Chemaly, size: 1000x20000 pixels, please click to enlarge. Every effort has been taken not to infringe any copyright pertaining to the original oeuvres. All these works were done on paintbrush following a simple question from a student: "Enno, lachou el histoire de l'art?" (Seriously, why do we even bother with art history?).</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-34249377060898347372015-11-14T08:20:00.000+02:002015-11-14T08:20:04.590+02:00At 41, I miss... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqCUAboVPv45f3ESWirKYjW5ZTNi-WWErq7IHMkvE3ppaq5qrfkojRy9YJrVKMIJ4U-3ANwwRB_WL-c9BMeNKp7H5IlnHL7YfxP-0ctpFIJz6AR6j2CZMOsdo_vROjdr55PabOPEt__SB/s1600/Alone+with+my+thoughts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqCUAboVPv45f3ESWirKYjW5ZTNi-WWErq7IHMkvE3ppaq5qrfkojRy9YJrVKMIJ4U-3ANwwRB_WL-c9BMeNKp7H5IlnHL7YfxP-0ctpFIJz6AR6j2CZMOsdo_vROjdr55PabOPEt__SB/s320/Alone+with+my+thoughts.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alone with my thoughts - Tarek Joseph Chemaly</td></tr>
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At 41, I miss not acting my age and people playing along because I do not look my age,<br />
I miss not dressing my age, and wearing the clownish outfits with panache not even aware of their effect,<br />
I miss believing - in everything really, as it feels very awkward to just drift in a world where everything is relative,<br />
I miss knowing - or convincing myself - that it pays to be good, that people reimburse money lent, that friends would be there for you, that friends are not needed but still would be there for you anyhow, that there is goodness in people,<br />
I miss interpreting children's ingratitude as just a passing phase, cute in its own right,<br />
At 41 I miss being in love, in love with love, with the idea of a person, with a person that might be,<br />
I miss being curious about people, enthralled by their stories to the point of silliness,<br />
I miss meeting intelligent people and discussing smart ideas as if they matter on the ground,<br />
I miss storming out of offices and slamming doors in the face of superiors,<br />
I miss understanding rebellion and living it all while taking responsibilities,<br />
I miss early morning flights and bad exchanges in Frankfurt and the bloody Mary I had on the SAS plane,<br />
I miss wanting something viscerally,<o:p></o:p><br />
I miss missing someone viscerally,<o:p></o:p><br />
At 41, I miss.<o:p></o:p></div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-25045405517270669412015-11-10T08:02:00.000+02:002015-11-10T08:02:32.163+02:00Carpets from indepdence till martyrs - السجاد من الاستقلال للشهداء<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT767iDtROAFYUcecfGJHJux9gMrnF-r4vOmLaLPBUu5bD12dlA7IFV02VHbniC7wDYRh7qixiGeFHPqq2NEpoQCuwLucU8O06CAUJfuovsURwc1JmIqxoGDO9CzU6i6mih7hgBcXQ9N8/s1600/Al+Sajjad+min+el+isteklal+lal+chouhada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT767iDtROAFYUcecfGJHJux9gMrnF-r4vOmLaLPBUu5bD12dlA7IFV02VHbniC7wDYRh7qixiGeFHPqq2NEpoQCuwLucU8O06CAUJfuovsURwc1JmIqxoGDO9CzU6i6mih7hgBcXQ9N8/s320/Al+Sajjad+min+el+isteklal+lal+chouhada.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This year, we put the winter carpets early on with early November already being so rainy and cold where I am - hint: not Beirut - but back when times were more defined in terms of four seasons, there was a local expression which went "al sajjad min isteklal la chouhada" - the carpets from independence till martyrs. Independence day falls on November 22nd and Martyrs day on May 6th. Both were at the time national holidays which allowed women (and men) of the house to do the whole brouhaha associated with putting on the carpets and taking them off (which is very time and labor consuming mind you).</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-92034725097068421722015-11-09T09:40:00.003+02:002015-11-09T10:13:25.104+02:00Byblos bank changes tone - I miss the old one...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In 2014, during a very - very - lengthy banking transaction at a Byblos Bank branch, I saw a beautiful heart-warming string of ads for personal loans. Funny, well-scripted or real, with beautiful copy which is either sincere of perfectly-staged, wonderfully casted, with a very small twist that made the ad even more human and lifelike. Should you not believe me, just watch them <a href="http://beirutntsc.blogspot.com/2014/08/byblos-bank-slices-life-perfectly.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Which is why I am a bit surprised in the "new" tone of voice of the Byblos Bank ads.<br />
Are they "nice"? Yes. Well shot? Definitely. But what was missing was that sweet ingénue tone of the old ads. The ones about expecting mothers picking nurseries for kids, or a family renovating an apartment within budget and with run-of-the-mill tastes. The casting in these new versions is deliberately horrible, which could have been too funny (meaning so horrible they end up kitsch such as the evil mother-in-law in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyN1J7RqsbY" target="_blank">Vanish ad</a>!) but sadly stopped several degrees of that to just "annoying". Whereas I am not usually labelled an optimist, the older ads managed to infuse that feeling in me - that things would be OK somehow, that life can truly be enjoyed in its small pleasures, that families can gather around splitting taste choices (that epic "but he gets to choose the television" as said by the housewife about her husband in the home remodeling ad), and so on.<br />
Look I am an uncle myself, so definitely I would really not pick a set of drums for my nephews or niece. But how about this - what if the scenario was a housewife stumbling on pieces of Lego all over the house because the uncle (me!) gifted the kid a construction set. "<a href="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE0LzAxLzIxLzk3L0xlZ29HaXJsLjY0MzkzLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/c424ff03/ccf/LegoGirl.jpg" target="_blank">What it is is beautiful</a>" and it would make me feel so. As a consumer, as an uncle, as someone who has to wait for a long time at any of the branches of Byblos watching these ads in loops.<br />
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Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-65123016512992406162015-11-08T08:35:00.000+02:002015-11-08T08:35:24.145+02:00Arresting a fugitive moment (After Ghada Al Samman) - a new series by Tarek Chemaly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnWFEJ1YNdAC7JSeQRnjRk6zOZ_VGKL92EJm0UHFsOr7NwI62ZkN0sByxWsqIgD5pE-Kc4o4tjqQYVmEUcRZ-hVq1Uz2M88mjs0qrEWdhSNSC3MPB2a6HATzx3wfAk2yrzmG42gOkjIKa/s1600/01+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnWFEJ1YNdAC7JSeQRnjRk6zOZ_VGKL92EJm0UHFsOr7NwI62ZkN0sByxWsqIgD5pE-Kc4o4tjqQYVmEUcRZ-hVq1Uz2M88mjs0qrEWdhSNSC3MPB2a6HATzx3wfAk2yrzmG42gOkjIKa/s320/01+Final.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Based on Ghada Al Samman’s book “I3tikal lahza Hariba”, the
digital works try to portray the swinging between love, hate, liberty and a
sense of emprisonment. Just like the book, the digital interpretation tries to
portray what it is to be at war, inside and outside.</div>
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Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-67381183250233468602015-11-07T07:48:00.000+02:002015-11-07T07:48:12.611+02:00Samandal, censorship and living in the dark ages...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From <a href="http://samandalcomics.com/" target="_blank">Samandal Comics</a>:</div>
On December of 2009, and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture as part of "Beirut Book Capital of the World", <em>Samandal </em>put out its 7th anthology in collaboration with the Belgian publishing house, <em>L’employé du Moi</em>, with further support from the French Cultural Center (CCF) in Beirut and the Belgian Ministry of Culture in Brussels. This publication was the fruit of a year-long collaboration between comic artists in Lebanon and their partners in Belgium, spanning several lectures and workshops, and launched at an exhibition at the CCF with the help of the UNESCO fund.<br />
Four months later, three of the four <em>Samandal </em>editors that worked on that book were charged by the public attorney with a) inciting sectarian strife b) denigrating religion c) publishing false news and d) defamation and slander.<br />
After five years of legal proceedings, we were found guilty on the basis of article 25 of the publications law, and on April 28, 2015 we were fined 10,000,000 LL each ($20,000 in total), equal to two years and nine months in jail on failure of payment. This incrimination, instigated by religious institutions and sustained by the state, has crippled <em>Samandal </em>and threatens to bring our decade-long career in comics to an end.<br />
We began <em>Samandal </em>as a volunteer-based, non-profit organization in 2007 because we felt that comics were an underrepresented medium in our part of the world. We wanted to create a platform to tell stories from Lebanon and the Middle East, as well as to bring independent comics from around the world to a local audience. Alongside publishing comics, we also organized countless workshops, comics jams, international artist exchanges, and lectures, opening up the dialogue to include artists from different disciplines, and along with <em>Metropolis</em> Art Cinema have co-founded <em>Beirut Animated</em>, the biennial animation festival in Beirut.<br />
It thus came as a surprise when we found out that the state had charged us with inciting sectarian strife. Our case began with a letter sent by the minister of information to the minister of justice requesting litigation against <em>Samandal </em>on account of “Christian personalities” finding two panels in two separate comics offensive to religion. The minister of justice in turn referred the case to the public prosecutor at the court of cassation.<br />
The comics themselves address religion only tangentially and deal satirically with completely different subjects. However, a handful of panels were selectively taken out of context as proof of blasphemy (akin to indicting a publisher for having a character in a book use the name of the lord in vain.) We want to present these comics to you in their entirety ("Lebanese Recipes for Revenge" by Lena Merhej & "Ecce Homo" by Valfret) so that you may judge their disruptive natures for yourselves, however we cannot link to them directly for fear of a recurrence of the whole legal debacle. Instead we direct you to our co-publisher’s website <a href="http://www.grandpapier.com/">grandpapier.com</a><br />
Despite our lawyers’ airtight legal defense against these claims, the court fell back on the vagaries of an elastic censorship law and a cohort of complacent public servants to criminalize and punish us, in the process committing several legal violations to wit:<br />
1- The three editors currently have "warrants of subjugation" (مذكرات اخضاع) issued against them. These illegal warrants, issued by General Security (despite being annulled by the decision of the council of ministers no. 10 dated 24/7/2014), give it the power to delay official transactions, hold passports, and harass subjects at will. Warrants of subjugation are regularly issued against human rights activists, lawyers and authors/artists as a method of intimidation.<br />
2- The publication law in Lebanon places the legal responsibility for such cases primarily on the authors of the offending story, in this case, Ms. Merhej (also one of the editors of <em>Samandal</em>) and Valfret, and then on the publisher, Samandal Association in this case. Instead, the legal proceedings ignored these laws and targeted three of the four editors personally, incurring triple the charges and triple the fines.<br />
3- The editors were never allowed to testify at the cassation court, even after repeated official requests were made. The same court rejected our request to summon the authors as witnesses.<br />
The assumption that we built a platform such as <em>Samandal </em>to take cheap shots at religious institutions is absurd, and the richness of our publications speaks for themselves. We respect all religions equally and have no interest in targeting any single one for ridicule. However, we have no respect, and in fact much contempt, for those who use religion as a way of exercising their power and tightly policing public discourse.<br />
The assertion that <em>Samandal </em>is insulting the Christian faith is an attempt to pit <em>Samandal </em>against Christianity and religion as a whole, when in fact it is a few individuals in power who are purposefully misreading the work in order to monopolize the conversation and deflect from their own incompetence at state legislation and their own incitement of sectarian strife when it suits them to do so. It is an unfortunate irony that a non-profit publishing platform for comics was prosecuted for “crimes” that continue to be committed daily by various politicians and their respective news outlets. Religion has been wrested from the hands of worshippers and into the chokehold of state institutions, stifling conversation and reducing all debate to a reductive binary of “with us or against us.” We refuse to be a part of that exchange. In fact, <em>Samandal </em>was created precisely to provide an alternative space for a different kind of dialogue, one much richer in language and nuanced in its discussions of the subtleties of the world around us.<br />
Far from being an isolated incident, the <em>Samandal </em>case is simply one iteration within a longstanding practice of arbitrary and unjust state censorship and silencing of artistic production. There is a pressing need to strike a balance between the dangers of censorship on artistic freedom to that of the rights of the plaintiff and other religious sensitivities. This balance becomes even more imperative when the defendant is an artist, while the plaintiff is the public prosecution, or a powerful economic or religious figure, who stands to lose little or nothing in return.<br />
Today <em>Samandal </em>is threatened with imminent collapse because of the capricious and biased application of an antiquated censorship law. The upcoming release of “Geographia” will be the final issue we can publish as <em>Samandal’s </em>finances have been crippled by the damages of the lawsuit forcing our organization to shut down.<br />
However, our love of comics and our ambitions to publish more have not been dampened by this incident and we hope to protest this ruling by continuing to publish, improve and expand <em>Samandal </em>with your continued solidarity. <em>Samandal </em>has survived and thrived because of the involvement and support of its public, and we now call on you to help us relaunch the publication. We hope that a crowdfunding campaign will help us get back on our feet and furthermore publish two new anthologies of <em>Samandal </em>comics. If you would like to help us in our push back, please donate at our online crowdfunding campaign.</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318845656175069186.post-42646695252976119562015-11-06T11:03:00.000+02:002015-11-06T11:03:00.380+02:00Air France goes majestic in a new series of ads.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oh isn't that a nice surprise! The Air France campaign is a total royal joy! Royal shopping in Paris; Oh! the joyful legs; Let's have fun!; The palace with two wings; Champagne for everyone; A revolutionary comfort; Heaven, here I am!; Spectacular; A hair-raising network, Its majesty A380.... The lines and the art direction leave little to the royal treatment, a bit self-mocking considering French's past. History has proven that Marie-Antoinette never said "qui'ils mangent des biscuits" but one can hear the distinct murmur of this sentence in this brilliant campaign!</div>
Tarek Chemalyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887575098159705742noreply@blogger.com0