Assadour (Assadour Bezdikian)
Biography
Born in 1943 in Lebanon
During his formative years as an adolescent, he took painting lessons with the artist Paul Guiragossian (1926-1993) and later joined the art studio of the painter Guvder (1923-2016)
For two consecutive years in the summers of 1962 and 1963, he was granted a three months scholarship to study at the Pietro Vannucci Academy, in Perugia, in Italy, where he was mentored by the Franciscan priest Diego and executed his first engraving.
1964-1970: After winning a competition organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, he was a granted a three-year scholarship to study at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he trained at the workshop of Lucien Coutaud (1904-1977).
During his training, Assadour enhanced his natural talents with control, precision, and application in watercolor, drawing, and painting, but mostly in engraving. In Paris, Assadour encountered constructivism, abstraction, and expressionism.
Attempts have been made by art critics to discover inspirations of his art from Mesopotamian, Armenian, Western, as well as Buddhist art and iconography.
As an outsider and an unmatched creator, his work defies all attempts at categorization.
Assadour’s challenging character positioned him against the traditional educational system and it’s hierarchy guided him to question every imposed rules and regulation. His art was a means to dismantle and make use of several sciences proving that all the enigmas in the world are not to be discovered and communicated only through traditional channels, nor do they have to deliver a preconceived single message. His canvases refer to geometry through the use of measuring scales, arrows, squares, cylinders, triangles, grids, and more; arithmetic is revealed through numbers, coordinates, and architecture in arches, domes, cubes, and pyramids. We see cosmology in the constellations of representations sprinkled on his canvases, calligraphy in the letters dispersed amid other signs and symbols, especially the letter “A,” referring to the artist himself. Meticulous like a master watchmaker, Assadour disassembles every aspect of certainty in the world, scatters it all over his compositions, voids it of its aura, and makes it accessible to all. Therefore, by demonstrating that the world is functioning on residues of traditions, Assadour clearly “demystifies the misunderstanding of the technological civilization.”
Assadour's codes and signs function within the space of the painting independently of their respective traditional references; they constitute a particular universe that unfolds through intuition more than to the intellect.
Assadour empowers the viewer by providing potentials of universes to gather and re-construct; he invites him to have an active approach towards his work of art.
Solo Exhibitions:
2016 Assadour: Landscape in Motion, Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
Paintings, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2014 MIG (Museo Internazionale di Grafica) Laboratorio d’Arte Grafica di Modena, Italy.
2012 From Chaos To Harmony, Galerie Claud Lemand, Paris, France.
2008
Pericle Fazzini Museum, Assisi, Italy.
Tito Balesta Foundation, Longiano, Italy.
2004
Cahiers d’Art, Paris, France.
Artgraph Gallery, Nagoya, Japan.
Paintings on Paper and Artist’s Books, Galerie Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2004
Keum San Gallery, Seoul, South Korea.
Artgraph Gallery, Nagoya, Japan.
2002
Vivant Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
Keum San Gallery, Seoul, South Korea.
2001 Galerie d’Art Contemporain, Chamalières, France.
1999 Arte Fiera, Bologna, Italy.
Galerie Artgraph, Nagoya, Japan.
1997 Cahiers d’Art, Paris, France.
Artgraph Gallery, Nagoya, Japan.
Gallery Debora, Oita, Japan.
1996 Galleria Della Pergola, Pesaro, Italy.
1995
Keum San Gallery, Seoul, South Korea.
Rochane Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
Artgraph Gallery, Nagoya, Japan.
Gallery Debora, Oita, Japan.
1994
Bern Art Gallery, Osaka, Japan.
Gallery “Mini Exhibition”, Akita, Japan.
Galleria Della Pergola, Pesaro, Italy.
I Vicoli Dell’Arte, Maratea, Italy.
Galleria La Pancetta, Italy.
1993
Theatre de Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Evangelische Akademie, Tutzing, Germany.
Galleria Opera, Spoleto; Matera, Italy.
Galerie “Cegrac” a Coruna, Spain.
Artgraph Gallery, Nagoya, Japan.
Galerie Biren, Paris, France.
1992
Galerie Vivant, Tokyo, Japan.
Galleria Della Pergola, Pesaro, Italy.
1991
Bochum Museum, Bochum, Germany.
Artgraph Gallery, Nagoya, Japan.
Galerie Balucka, Lodz, Poland.
Galerie du Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
1990
Studio Pozzan, Vicenza, Italy.
Tapiès Gallery, Kobe, Japan.
Galerie du Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Galleria Della Pergola, Pesaro, Italy.
1989
FIAC-SAGA Luxembourg Gallery, France.
Galerie Vivant, Tokyo, Japan.
1988 Galerie Boisserée, Cologne, Germany.
1987 Maison de la Culture, Metz, France.
1986
Taichung Cultural Center, Taichung, Taiwan.
Xing Ling Art Center, Kaoshung, Taiwan.
Galerie du Dragon, Paris, France.
1985 New Aspect Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
1984
Galerie Vivant, Tokyo, Japan.
La Panchetta Gallery, Bari, Italy.
Gallerie II Millenia, Rome, Italy.
1983
Expo Arte, Bari, Italy.
Gallerie El Puente, Lima, Peru.
Galerie Sagot-Le-Garrec, Paris, France.
Gallerie Arte Studio 36, Lecce, Italy.
1982
Galerie du Dragon, Paris, France.
Galerie Vivant, Tokyo, Japan.
1981
Nokano Ko Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
Galerie Praestegaarden, Denmark.
Galerie Cimaise, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Studio Merli, Ferrara, Italy.
Galleria Della Pergola, Pesaro, Italy.
1980
Alex Manoogian Art Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Galerie L’Arco, Rome, Italy.
Galerie Heimeshoff, Essen, Germany.
Galerie Vivant, Tokyo, Japan.
1979
Galerie Il Ponte, Florence, Italy.
Galerie Christiano Benti, Italy.
Santa Croce sull’Arno, Italy.
Galleria Dei Giomi, Pisa, Italy.
Galerie Madeline, Grenoble, France.
1978
La Cooperativa Gallery, Bari, Italy.
Galleria d’Arte Spriano Omegna, Novara, Italy.
1977
Galerie Sagot-Le-Garrec, Paris, France.
Galleria Trudstolpegaard Saxkjobing, Denmark.
Gallerie Il Messagio, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
1976
Galerie La Taille Douce, Brussels, Belgium.
Galleria La Lantarna, Trieste, Italy.
Galleria Forma Studio, Rome, Italy.
Galerie L’Ollave, Lyon, France.
Galerie d’Eendt, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
International Biennial of Engraving, Kraków, Poland.
1975
Alex Manoogian Art Center, Beirut, Lebanon
1974
Galerie Paul Brück, Luxembourg.
Galerie L’Arco, Rome, Italy.
Centro du Studi per l’Incizione, Pesaro, Italy.
1972
Galerie La Taille Douce, Brussels, Belgium.
1971
Galerie Ariane, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Galerie La Pochade, Paris, France.
1968 Galerie L’Amateur, Beirut, Lebanon.
1967 Samia Toutounji Residence, Beirut, Lebanon.
Group Exhibitions:
2019: A la plume, au pinceau, au crayon: dessins du monde Arabe, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France.
2018: Donation Claude & France Lemand, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France.
2017:
Tondo from East and West, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France
Around the World through Tondo, Musée de l’Hospice Saint Roch, Issoudun, France
Arab Print: Volume III, Meem Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2016: Twenty Years and Beyond, Jeweler's Souks, Solidere Era, Beirut.
2016: From East and West, Art Paris Art Fair, Grand Palais, Paris, France.
2013: L’Automne, Moonshine Museum, Seoul, South Korea.
2012:
Art From Lebanon, Beirut Exhibition Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Masters of the Tondo, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
Lebanese Creativity, 1959-2012, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
Les Arts de l’Exile, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2011: d’Orient et d’Occident, Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait; Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2010: Recent Acquisitions, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2008: Masterpieces, Inaugural Exhibition, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2006: Rare Works, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2005:
Tondo International, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
Homage to Shafic Abboud, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2003:
The 39th exhibition of the Korean Contemporary Printmakers Association, South Korea.
2002:
International Contemporary Prints Art Exhibition, Seoul, South Korea.
2nd annual graphic international, Agello, Italy.
Anacreon Museum, Granville, France.
Le Signe et La Marge, Musée Anacréon Granville, France.
2001: d’Orient et d’Occident, Espace Claude Lemand, Paris, France.
2000: Saletta Galaverni, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
1999:
Norwegian International Print Triennial, Fredrikstad, Norway.
Lebanese Cultural Forum, UNESCO, Paris, France.
L’Arte e il torchio, A.D.A.F.A., Cermona, Italy.
Le Signe et La Marge, Galerie Nichido, Paris, France.
Bapha, International Print Biennale, Varna, Bulgaria.
Lebanese Cultural Forum, UNESCO, Paris, France.
1998:
Art Biennial of Alcoi, Alcoi, Spain.
Le Signe et La Marge, The Palace of Medieval Verneuil Justice, Bourdonnais, France.
Galerie des Remparts, Le Mans, France.
1997:
La Beauté du Noir, Galerie Vivant, Tokyo, Japan.
Mostra di Grafica, Saletta Galaverni, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Grafica in Francia, Palazzo Sangalio, Tolentino, Italy.
1996:
4th Biennial of Graphic Art, Belgrade, Serbia.
Dessins et Couleurs, Galerie Framond, Paris, France.
1994:
Intergrafia ’94 World Award Winners Gallery, Katowice, Poland.
1992:
Musée du Petit Format, Couvin-Mariembourg, Belgium.
1991:
International Biennial of Engraving, Kraków, Poland.
Intergrafia, Katowice, Poland.
1990:
Vico Arte 90, 2nd International Biennial of Graphic Art, Bamberino Val d’Elsa, Italy.
1989:
International Biennial of Etching, Ljublhana, Yugoslavia.
Gravures Etrangères Contemporaines, Bibliothèque Royale Albert 1er, Brussels, Belgium.
1988:
Salon d’Automne, Thorigny-sur-Marne, France.
1987:
1st Triennial of Contemporary Etching, Oberkorn, Luxembourg.
International Biennial of Etching, Ljublhana, Yugoslavia.
1986:
Intergrafia, Katowice, Poland.
Norwegian International Print Biennale, Fredrikstad, Norway.
1985:
International Biennial of Etching, Ljublhana, Yugoslavia.
Gravadores da Escola de Paris, Concello de Santiago, Spain.
1984:
Le Perugin, Caen, France.
Intergrafia, Katowice, Poland.
1983:
World Print Council, New York, USA.
International Biennial of Etching, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia.
International Print Exhibition, Taiwan.
1982:
International Biennial of Etching, Brussels, Belgium.
Norwegian International Print Biennale, Fredrikstad, Norway.
1981:
International Biennial of Etching, Ljublhana, Yugoslavia.
1980:
International Biennial of Engraving, Kraków, Poland.
Intergrafia, Katowice, Poland.
Norwegian International Print Biennale, Fredrikstad, Norway.
1979:
1st Biennial of Incision, Biella, Italy.
1st European Biennial of Etching, Heidelberg, Germany.
British International Print Biennial, Bradford, UK.
Grafiska Sallskapet, Stockholm, Sweden.
1978:
International Biennial of Engraving, Kraków, Poland.
Intergrafia, Katowice, Poland.
1977:
1st New York International Drawing Biennial, Bronx Museum of Art, New York, USA
Expo Art, Frankfurt, Germany; Bologna,Bari, Italy; Switzerland.
La Jeune Gravure Contemporaine, Paris, France.
1976:
2nd European Biennial of Etching, Mulhouse, France.
Intergrafia, Katowice, Poland.
Salon de Mai, Paris, France.
Salon de la Gravure, Levallois-Perret, France.
Salon International, Toulon, France.
Intergrafik 76 DDR, Berlin, Germany.
1975:
La Jeune Gravure Contemporaine, Paris, France.
Salon de Mai, Paris, France.
Quinzaine sur l’Estampe, Spain.
1974:
La Jeune Gravure Contemporaine, Paris, France.
Intergrafia, Katowice, Poland.
Norwegian International Print Biennale, Fredrikstad, Norway.
Salon de Mai, Paris, France.
1973:
International Salon of Art, Toulon, France.
1972:
International Biennial of Graphic Art, Florence, Italy Réalités Nouvelles, Paris, France.
Exposition Internationale de Dessins Originaux, Rijeka, Yugoslavia.
Tercera Biennal International Del Grabbado, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Salon de Mai, Paris, France.
1971:
International Biennial of Print, Epinal, France.
1970:
International Biennial of Etching, Krakow, Poland.
Exposition Internationale de Dessins Originaux, Rijeka, Yugoslavia.
Biennale Internationale de l’Estampe, Paris, France.
1968:
Exposition Internationale de Dessins Originaux, Rijeka, Yugoslavia
Salon de Mai, Paris, France
1967: Salon de Mai, Paris, France.