94 year old artist Habuba Farah’s Beams of Light at Artbooth Gallery

With a firm grip on the pencil colours she chooses, artist Habuba Farah, meticulously synthesises a set of lines and shades, transforming a white sheet of paper, into a stunning piece of geometric art. A pioneer of lyrical geometric abstraction, at 94 the Lebanese Brazilian artist, has been perfecting her layered sketches for over seven decades, masterfully blending rhythm, form and colour. For the first time in the Middle East, a curated collection of her dynamic artworks are being exhibited at the Artbooth Gallery in Abu Dhabi. Titled Beams of Light, the exhibition runs till May 25, 2025.

Featuring Farah’s work from 1970s to present, the exhibition showcases mediums such as oil on canvas, gouache on paper and her intricate pencil drawings. Art enthusiasts can have a close look at her signature style exploring neutral grey or coloured grey, a concept Farah developed by experimenting with primary colours and their diametrically opposite secondary colours. This unique process results in subtle interplay of tones and colours in geometric compositions reflecting a luminous appearance.

An Early Start

Born in 1931 in Getulina, Sao Paulo to Lebanese immigrant parents, Farrah led a multicultural life. While she immersed herself in Sao Paolo’s vibrant artistic scene, her upbringing was rooted in her parents’ Arab culture. She was drawn to art early on. “I began drawing even before learning to read and write. I would spontaneously create abstract and geometric drawings without any prior knowledge of artistic movements,” shares Farah.

Her father and uncle, were merchants of fabric, food and utensils, and had migrated from south Lebanon to Brazil. As a young child, Farah recalls, being very observant, curious and mischievous. “I was always fascinated by nature and asked countless questions. At my father’s store whenever new merchandise arrived, I would observe the patterns on the fabrics and decorated boxes and draw them later,” she tells. Her artistic abilities were first noticed by teachers at the boarding school that she and her sister attended. along with her formal education she continued to pursue art and later balanced her passion with a career as a geography teacher.

Art Milestones

In 1950 when she was studying art in Sao Paulo, she was drawn towards abstract strokes and forms. It was also around this time that she got the opportunity to learn from well-known artists — Samson Flexor and Mario Zanini. “Flexor encouraged me to believe that I was on the right path. Zanini and other teachers of that time helped me to improve my theoretical and practical repertoire,” she says.

In 1962, she opened a studio in Sao Paulo dedicating herself to painting and applied art. “What truly fascinates me is human expression. The butterfly with its colours and forms, the orthogonal geometry and its paraboloids, I navigate these realms tirelessly. These are not merely distinct faces of my work but recurring themes that I revisit according to my state of mind, and currently within the limits of my body,” points out the artist.

A significant highlight of Farah’s art has been her chromatic research. Taking cues from the colour theories of French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul, Farah began her own experiments with colours. Titled Neutrals of Colour Theory, through her study on colour scales, she obtained neutral grey by mixing equal parts of a primary colour with its dramatically opposite secondary colour.

Over time her art too veered towards more playful geometric abstractionism, involving movement and fluidity in forms and lines, making her a master of lyrical abstraction. Her geometric art has also now extended to include collages and cut outs. Viewers at the Beams of Light exhibitions can engage with several facets of Farah’s unique artistic vision.

At 94, an active nonagenarian, Farah says she keeps a positive outlook towards life despite health challenges. “Today my body may be fragile, but my mind is active like a whirlwind. I continue to reinvent myself and find new ways to bring my art to life.”

Farah’s oeuvre includes art exhibitions across the world, including in Brazil, Italy, Japan, France and the USA with artworks in prestigious collections, including at the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP), the upcoming Guggenheim Museum, Abu Dhabi and the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah. Among her several accolades are a prize at the IV Bosio Salon in Monte Carlo in 1964, a special mention from the International Jury at the V International Competition of Palme d’Or of Fine Arts, Monaco 1973, a second place at the X International Salon of Painting of Tsu, Japan, 1975 and Bronze Medal at the X World Biennial of Masters of Arts of Paris, France, 1980. Grateful for her long life and art career, Farah says, “I take great pride in my entire journey. It’s wonderful to be alive and to know that my work is being recognized and appreciated even today. I wish my father, my siblings and my husband were here to witness all of this. I have only gratitude.”