Hassan Jouni, born in 1942 in Beirut, showed an early talent for art, starting to draw at age seven and later pursuing formal training at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts and the Foster Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. His time in Madrid was influential, sparking his passion for learning and beauty. However, his love for Lebanon led him back in 1970, where he became a prominent figure in the arts scene.
Returning to Beirut’s thriving cultural environment, Jouni began teaching and exhibiting his work while also witnessing the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. This turbulent period influenced his art, with him depicting Beirut’s golden age as a nostalgic antidote to the violence. His paintings often reflect everyday life, preserving Lebanese culture and commenting on societal changes.
Jouni’s artistic style involves sequential storytelling across multiple canvases, transitioning from figuration to abstraction. He primarily works with oil on canvas, focusing on literal depictions infused with emotion and empathy for human experiences. His notable work “Emigration from the South” captures the unity and emotions of a migrant family.
Today, based in his Manara atelier since 1980, Jouni continues to paint, creating artworks that blend past and present, capturing the essence of Beirut’s ever-evolving identity.
