Beauty unveiled, amidst conflict: Tom Young's art showcases the charm of Lebanon, unafraid to depict its wounds
In the heart of Beirut, English artist Tom Young's current exhibition showcases a unique fusion of British and Lebanese landscapes, painted with a palette knife in vibrant oils.
Born in 1973, Young is an artist known for his deep connections with Lebanon, where he lives and works. His art often reflects this dual heritage, blending elements inspired by English Romanticism and French Impressionism, influenced by his artistic and architectural training.
Young's journey to Lebanon began in 2006, initially commissioned by a Lebanese client in London. He later moved to Beirut, where he now resides in a charming studio in Gemmayzeh. His fiancée is Lebanese, adding to his profound connection with the country.
His paintings explore complex street scenes and cityscapes, combining elements of Lebanese cities like Beirut, Tripoli, and Saida with London landmarks such as Tower Bridge. His work symbolizes contrasts like war and beauty, decay and new life, often featuring giant flowers to represent hope after conflict.
The influence of his English roots and Lebanese surroundings is evident in his use of meaningful flowers and landscapes, drawing inspiration from artist ancestors like his great-great-aunt Marianne. Marianne North, a pioneering botanical artist, travelled extensively and was mentored by Edward Lear, who painted the cedars of Lebanon.
Young's work is grounded in the tradition of English romanticism and French Impressionism, with an architectural insight that adds depth to his complex street-scapes. His paintings reward long and close looking, offering layers of meaning that connect places, histories, and emotions across cultures.
Recognition for Young's work has come from international exhibitions in cities like London, Beirut, and India. His Lebanese-themed work was notably appreciated, and he has collaborated with the Lebanese community in London to arrange exhibitions of his work and the work of children from bombed areas in Lebanon.
One of his most poignant paintings, "Asphixiated City (Angelus Novus)", depicts a view of Beirut from the sea and was painted during last year's conflict. An accidental splash of white paint became an angelic figure, its upstretched hand touched by an undirected dribble of liquid black from the ravaged sky.
In other paintings, past and present or even cities merge together, with Beirut becoming London in an intricate web of roofs and streets linked by Tower Bridge. A Tiananmen Square moment featuring a hijab-clad woman facing Israeli tanks was inspired by a real-life event, showcasing Young's ability to capture significant moments in history.
Young's journey to becoming an artist began early, with trips to Palestine by his aunt and uncle when he was 11. He attended a Christian school and sang hymns about places he later visited in Palestine and Iraq. His car mechanic, Raed Zahreddine, commissioned him to go to Lebanon, where he found a strong artistic tradition and a friendly population.
Tom Young's unique style and powerful messages make him a standout artist in the contemporary art world. His current exhibition in Beirut is a testament to his ability to blend his English artistic training and heritage with his profound experiences and life in Lebanon, resulting in evocative, layered paintings that connect places, histories, and emotions across cultures.
Tom Young's adventurous travels to Lebanon have significantly influenced his artwork, as he often features landscapes of Beirut, Tripoli, and Saida, combined with London landmarks like Tower Bridge, in his paintings that symbolize contrasts between war and beauty, decay, and new life.
His deeply rooted connection with Lebanon is not only due to his residency and fiancée but also his artistic ancestry, as he draws inspiration from Marianne North, a pioneering botanical artist who traveled extensively and painted the cedars of Lebanon.
