Beirut/London based multidisciplinary visual artist Ramzi Mallat presents Suspended Disbelief, a captivating installation which interrogates the tension between belief and doubt, drawing attention to the ways in which ancient superstitions fluctuate and persist within modern contexts. The private view held on Thursday 27th of March from 5-9PM at Takeover Space in Beirut.
Artist Ramzi Mallat.
Central to this exhibition is the motif of the evil eye – a primordial symbol used to ward off malevolent forces through a shielding gaze. Deeply embedded in the folklore and collective psyche of the Mediterranean region and beyond, this symbol is reimagined here as both a safeguarding and destabilizing force.
Mallat states: “While people fear what they do not understand, nothing can exist in someone’s mind if they do not believe in it. This exhibition is about challenging those beliefs, facing them and incessantly picking at them.”
Viewers firstly navigate through Mallat’s suspended bronze works which were inspired by ancient artifacts found in the ‘Eye Complex’ of Tell Brak in Syria. Meticulously crafted with a balance of raw tactility and refined detail, the artist’s Constellations of Protection (2023-ongoing) series evokes timeless anchors that bridge the past and present.
Mallat reflects: “These sculptures embody both strength and vulnerability, simultaneously serving as guardians and bearers of cultural memory.”
Moreover, one of Mallat’s Vista Visions (2024-ongoing) works on paper is reconfigured to produce a wallpaper of repeating patterns to recalibrate and confuse the viewer’s depth of field. This imagery woven throughout the installation incorporates references to the gaze as a metaphysical symbol of perception, surveillance, and spiritual defense to further amplify feelings of anxiety and transcendence.
“I chose Takeover Beirut to showcase this specific work because of its unique principle within the landscape of the country’s artistic scene. By embracing experimentation, it challenged me as an artist to respond within the constraints of the given space and the urgency imposed by the volatility of Lebanon’s socio-political situation.”
Mallat’s work resonates powerfully within Beirut’s dynamic cultural landscape – a city that embodies perseverance, tenacity, and adaptation amidst ongoing challenges. Through this installation, he gestures toward a reimagining of traditional narratives, offering new interpretations that honor heritage while embedding critical contemporary relevance. The artist urges viewers to consider how belief systems – whether cultural, personal, or societal – influence our understanding of reality.
Mallat concludes: “The installation becomes a site of both personal introspection and collective renewal, asking us to reflect on the invisible forces that shape our lives, whether through the protective gaze of the talisman or through the act of forging fictions that become themselves inherent truths.”