By Amal Issa 
Mark Hachem Gallery in Beirut opened its doors on 9 September 2025 to a deeply moving exhibition by Lebanese painter Ali Al Husseini. Curated by Dr. Tony Karam, Coming Home: The Colors of Memory runs until 20 September. The show marks Husseini’s first presentation in Lebanon since the civil war, a homecoming that invites reflection on displacement, memory and the role of art in sustaining cultural identity.
Born in 1971, Husseini experienced the traumas of war and fled to Kuwait, where he studied at the Kuwait Society of Fine Arts. For decades he painted his village from memory; the luminous scenes on view are the result of this long exile. Although colorblind, he works instinctively with vibrant yellows, reds and blues, layering acrylic, oil, pastels and wax to build rich, textured surfaces.
The works in Coming Home oscillate between figuration and semi‑abstract landscapes, conjuring the rhythms of village life with a sensitivity born of distance. The collaboration between gallerist Mark Hachem and independent curator Dr. Tony Karam signals a welcome openness in Beirut’s art scene, foregrounding a practice that celebrates community resilience while challenging viewers to consider how memory can be regenerated.
For more information, see the full article on The Art Pulse.