“Kahlil Gibran: The Prophet, The Artist, The Man” exhibition that was opened on December 4th, 2012 at the public at the State Library of New South Wales, it introduced audiences to Gibran. While many Australians of the baby boomer generation have read The Prophet or heard of Gibran, few knew about his life or artworks.
Gibran’s visit to the State Library of New South Wales is both timely and fitting.
On October 31th 1910, Gibran was arriving back in the United States of America after his artistic sojourn in Paris. One hundred years later, examples of his life’s creative output including works created in Paris are arriving in Sydney on a new sojourn, to be displayed in a building: the Mitchell Library, which is itself 100 years old. Gibran’s artworks and manuscripts are visiting the State Library, which is renowned for its vast collection of items relating to previous and current generations of artists and writers, is an excellent fit. The Library also holds publications by Gibran, in several languages including English and Arabic.
Dr. David Butcher, of Paris Art Consulting, traveled to Bsharreh to write his condition report about the paintings that were presented at the exhibition and oversee the packing of the 60 items that were on loan from the Gibran Museum for the exhibition.
The exhibited artworks that are of Gibran’s teens right up to the year before his death in 1931, provided an overview of Gibran’s artistic output, featuring oil paintings, works of art on paper, including L’Automne (1909) which was selected for the famous Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts for its Spring salon in the Grand Palais in 1910, the original watercolours used as illustrations in the first edition of The Prophet, and writings selected from Gibran’s personal collection.
At the opening ceremony, President of the Gibran National Committee Dr. Tarek Chidiac Pronounced his speech entitled “From Bsharri to Sydney“ in which he confirmed that Lebanon is renowned worldwide for its rich cultural treasures and, more specifically, as being the birthplace and homeland of Khalil Gibran. He added that along with Gibran’s literary and artistic talent, Gibran is considered to be one of the greatest ambassadors for Lebanese talent and culture internationally. His writings and paintings touched people everywhere, leaving a brilliant legacy for the world.
Though, in her statement, NSW State Librarian and Chief Executive, Regina Suttonthanked “the passionate and indefatigable Professor Fadia Ghossayn, President of the Australian - Lebanese Foundation at the University of Sydney. Who without her patience and skills as an intermediary between the Lebanese community of New South Wales and the many contacts within Lebanon, this exhibition and associated events would not have culminated in such a wonderful celebration of literature and art.
Whereas, NSW Minister for the Arts, The Hon Virginia Judge MPexpressed herself toward the exhibition “I first fell in love with these artworks in Lebanon in July 2009. I felt it would be wonderful if citizens in New South Wales could have the opportunity to share in the sheer beauty of Gibran’s work.
Khalil Gibran is the world’s third best-selling poet after Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu, making him one of the most widely read, culturally influential poets of all time.” She added that The Prophet, shaped the souls of many young Australians during the 1960s and 70s, as a counterculture bible for a generation.
On his turn, Minister of Culture of Lebanon H. E. Mr. Salim Wardeh stated thatGibran’s legacy is the powerful simplicity of his words, which continue to inspire those who long for peace, search for love and strive for justice, as he wrote in The Prophet: ‘Work is Love made visible.’
Wardeh added that Gibran’s subjects reflect his philosophy and expressed ideas through writings and the visual arts, using black and white and colors.
The Australian-Lebanese Foundation:
The University of Sydney established the Australian- Lebanese Foundation in 2002 to build educational links between the university and Lebanese academic centers, to support educational opportunities for young Australians of Lebanese heritage and to strengthen cultural ties between Lebanon and Australia.
The Foundation has raised funds from the community to support its many activities. Over 40 first-year university students have received scholarships, and practical links have been established with the Lebanese University and other institutions in Lebanon. The Foundation has arranged visits to Australia of leading scientists, politicians, journalists and financiers to support the goals of enhancing the Australian community’s understanding of the rich cultural heritage of Lebanon and of informing the people of Lebanon and the Lebanese diaspora about Australia. These include the visits of a Lebanese environmental scientist to explain the diversity and beauty of the Lebanese ecology; senior political figures to discuss the status and management of Middle Eastern tensions; and Lebanon’s leading television journalist and his team to make two programs on the Lebanese in Australia for international broadcast.
