“Don’t be Silenced” is part of a series of works by Zena Assi that hovers between cultures, from her homeland in Lebanon to her residence in the UK.  With its ornate border, this work is presented like a traditional Oriental carpet, although the kaleidoscope of symbols inside are interwoven together in a web of wires, buildings and signage, a distinctly urban aesthetic.

Although Zena Assi frequently depicts figures, this portrait where she draws from life, is unique to her oeuvre. Capturing an essence of the person from the background, posture, or expression, she also dresses them in a cityscape, as if they are wearing the city’s “urban fabric.”

Although Zena Assi frequently depicts figures, this portrait where she draws from life, is unique to her oeuvre. Capturing an essence of the person from the background, posture, or expression, she also dresses them in a cityscape, as if they are wearing the city’s “urban fabric.”

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Using collaged mixed media, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present-day Lebanon. Inspired from street art and poster-like memorials “Martyr” questions what images of the dead mean to the living,  influencing choices and affecting obligations.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Using collaged mixed media, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present-day Lebanon. Filled with symbolism, “Buy or Sell” has a woman struggling with her head barely above water emphasizing that life still goes on even through the chaotic humanitarian situation.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Inspired by Goya in his depiction of suffering, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present-day Lebanon. In Memento Mori, she depicts an exhausted over-burdened woman, sitting next to a skeleton. An age-old artistic reference to the inevitability of death, Assi gives a contemporary and local twist on this classic depiction, adding layers of meaning both symbolically and literally with the collaged mixed media.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Inspired by Goya in both his depiction of the suffering and the medium of his work, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present day Lebanon. Her etchings with hand colored aquatint, entitled Ecce Homo, draw parallels with the past and the cyclical nature of history.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Inspired by Goya in both his depiction of the suffering and the medium of his work, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present day Lebanon. Her etchings with hand colored aquatint, entitled Ecce Homo, draw parallels with the past and the cyclical nature of history.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Inspired by Goya in both his depiction of the suffering and the medium of his work, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present day Lebanon. Her etchings with hand colored aquatint, entitled Ecce Homo, draw parallels with the past and the cyclical nature of history.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Inspired by Goya in both his depiction of the suffering and the medium of his work, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present day Lebanon. Her etchings with hand colored aquatint, entitled Ecce Homo, draw parallels with the past and the cyclical nature of history.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Inspired by Goya in both his depiction of the suffering and the medium of his work, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present day Lebanon. Her etchings with hand colored aquatint, entitled Ecce Homo, draw parallels with the past and the cyclical nature of history.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society such as migration and memory. Inspired by Goya in both his depiction of the suffering and the medium of his work, Assi illustrates the corruption-made humanitarian crisis facing present day Lebanon. Her etchings with hand colored aquatint, entitled Ecce Homo, draw parallels with the past and the cyclical nature of history.

Drawing inspiration from her native Beirut, Zena Assi’s work portrays the socio-cultural aspects and intense emotions of contemporary urban society. She depicts figures and scenes using a flat spatial environment, angular outlines, rich colors and patterns that reference Egon Schiele, and Gustav Klimt. The vertical canvas of blossoming trees in “Untitled (trees)” has the flat perspective typical of Assi’s work while the color of the flowers reminds the viewer of the springtime cherry and almond trees in Lebanon.