The work what do you want? deals with open-ended questions, and invites an infinite array of possible answers. It is created entirely out of three basic materials: paper, gesso, and graphite. The work references stone mosaics at the National Museum of Beirut, which were the inspiration for the artist. Yet far from being set in stone, the fragmented surface of this work feels as though it might, at any moment, come apart or reassemble into new configurations. The mosaic alludes to both the history and the aftermath of the Lebanese war, which is constantly being reconstructed in various ways by political actors, cultural institutions, and individuals. It contains language dealing with yearnings and anxieties, both personal and political, that have surrounded this tragedy, impacting the wellbeing of Lebanon’s citizens. Although there is a sense of urgency in the phrase
“what do you want,” the intricate materiality of the work also solicits meditative responses.