Curatorial notes
Bahia Shehab created ‘A Thousand Times No - Alif Lam-Alif’ using printmaking, a medium often associated with graphic design and mass communication rather than fine art. The stark black ink on white paper emphasizes the inherent qualities of the Arabic letterforms, transforming them into potent visual statements. Each variation of the 'Alif Lam-Alif' challenges traditional typography, instead becoming a medium for cultural and political expression. Printmaking democratizes art, making it accessible beyond elite circles. Shehab uses these methods to engage with broader social issues. The deliberate act of repeating and reinterpreting the letterforms, and the labor involved, imbues the work with a sense of urgency and resistance. The act of printing itself, traditionally a medium for disseminating information and propaganda, becomes a tool for reclaiming cultural identity. By embracing a craft-based medium, Shehab challenges the conventional hierarchy of art, highlighting the power of accessible and reproducible imagery in shaping cultural discourse.
