Michel Basbous
1921 – 1981, Rachana
Michel Basbous, the eldest of a renowned trio of brothers, pursued his studies in sculpture at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA) in Beirut and the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, with the support of a scholarship from the Lebanese government. He further refined his skills under the guidance of Ossip Zadkine in Paris.
In 1957, Basbous began his teaching career at the American University of Beirut. The following year, he returned to Rachana and turned it into a vibrant artistic center. He organized an outdoor international symposium on stone sculpture and an indoor exhibition that showcased wooden carvings.
His sculptures have garnered recognition and can be found in prestigious international museum collections, such as the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan, and the Zadkine Museum in Paris. Additionally, his sculptures adorn official buildings in Lebanon and Paris, and others reside in private collections around the world.
Michel Basbous received notable honors for his significant contributions to the field of sculpture. He was awarded the President of the Republic Prize for sculpture in 1956 and was the recipient of the inaugural Sursock Museum Prize for sculpture in 1968.
About his Work
Michel Basbous is regarded as the pioneer of modern sculpture in Lebanon. Despite not having encountered major works of art until his teenage years, his initial inspiration came from nature itself. The rugged rock formations of Laval, the twisted roots of mountain pines, the contorted shapes of candles during Mass, and the stalactites found in a nearby grotto all stirred his creative spirit.
He worked with diverse materials and styles, demonstrating a particular penchant for experimenting with tactile forms and materials. Notably, he ventured into transforming ready-made objects, such as car radiators, into compelling works of art. Much of his work involved carving from large, weighty columns of exceptionally fine limestone. Additionally, he experimented with volcanic stone, marble, and various colored rocks, as well as materials such as wood, metals, and polyesters.
Basbous's style exudes strength and confidence. He skillfully avoids primitivism and classicism, steering clear of the pitfalls of superficial tradition or sentimental provincialism. His work possesses a natural originality that arises from a profound and intense connection to his own inner being.
His artistic legacy extends beyond his own achievements. Basbous exerted a significant influence on his contemporaries and subsequent generations of sculptors, shaping the trajectory of sculptural expression in Lebanon.
Michel Basbous
Couple, 1956
Stone, 50 x 48 x 22 cm
Nammour Collection