On the tenth anniversary of the Sfeir-Semler Gallery in Beirut, I researched art magazines, newspapers, journals, catalogues, and other sources—all published over the last twenty years in Arabic, English, and French—to gather quotations from about 50 people: Lebanese artists, architects, historians, writers, curators, and gallerists.

 

I chose statements I wish I had made or would never make.

 

Culled from over 1,400 pages of text, the voices featured here include Amhad Beydoun, Tony Chakar, Waddah Charara, Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige, Bilal Khbeiz, Bernard Khoury, Rabih Mroué, Ghassan Salhab, Lina Majdalani, Christine Tohmé, Jalal Toufic, Walid Sadek, Youssef Tohme, Fawwaz Traboulsi, Akram Zaatari, and others.

​

I also commissioned the artist Farid Sarroukh to make the drawings that accompanied my chosen quotes.