Lara Zankoul
b. 1987, Lebanon

Lara Zankoul is an interdisciplinary artist based in Beirut, Lebanon. Her work captures everyday human behavior and issues that occur within society through photo and videographic media, installation, and 3D. The aim is to invite the viewers to come up with their own interpretation and understanding of the photographs and the stories behind them. Her signature work not only stands out in its conceptual and surreal identity but also in its timelessness.

As a self-taught photographer, Zankoul’s work is heavily based on experimentation and world-building within her photographs in order to create moments and craft them rather than just document them.

Zankoul was awarded the international Broncolor GenNext competition in 2016 and was a finalist in the renowned Hasselblad photo competition.

She has been featured in a number of exhibitions: locally and internationally (of which the Guy Hepner Gallery in New York and HEIST Gallery in London).

Artist Statement

Instead of capturing the real, I utilize the camera to capture the surreal.

"Dream" is a series of dreamscapes shot in typical Lebanese homes with high ceilings, colorful and elaborate walls (mainly hand-painted), and mosaic tiles on the floors. The pieces always depict a woman in a mystical room with the qualities listed above. Either she is levitating, diving into clouds, laying in a big shell, or standing in an interior garden. In her own Wonderland, she is Alice.

After a house I photographed was demolished to be replaced with modern profit-oriented real estate, these works took on a whole new dimension, symbolizing my desire to preserve Lebanese architectural heritage.

Solo Exhibitions

2017 'As cold as a white stone', Ayyam Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2016 'As cold as a white stone', Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2014 'The Unseen', Ayyam Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2011 'Depths', Ayyam Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2011 'Synopsis', VAPA Association, Beirut, Lebanon

Group Exhibitions

2016 'ArtxDesign', Gyu Hepner Gallery, Broadway, New York, USA
2015 'Beirut Photo Fair', ARTHEUM, Beirut, Lebanon
2015 'Beirut Art Fair', Heritage of Emotions, “Work in Progress” and Nikki Diana Marquardt, Beirut, Lebanon
2014 'The Road To Elysium', HEIST Gallery, London, UK
2014 'Festival Photomed Edition 3', Beirut, Lebanon
2011 'Woman in Contemporary Art', Art Lounge, Beirut, Lebanon
2011 'Through Our Lenses', Solar Hotel, Paris, France

Lara Zankoul b. 1987, Lebanon

Lara Zankoul
b. 1987, Lebanon