The President of the “Fine Arts Atelier Association for Culture and Arts” in Rashaya and Secretary-General of the “Gathering of Cultural Houses in Lebanon,” Shawki Dalal, launched today the works of artist Leila Al-Ahmadieh, which are made from upcycled used fabrics, at the association's headquarters in Rashaya Al-Wadi.
Dalal praised the efforts of “the daughter of the town of Sawfar, artist Leila Al-Ahmadieh,” and said: “Today we gather to launch an important artistic and environmental project in light of what we witness today of blatant violations against nature and the pollution humans leave behind due to industrial waste. Do we know that a single pair of jeans requires water consumption equivalent to an individual's water needs over seven years? Therefore, any project that reduces this damage to us and to nature must be supported and encouraged. From this standpoint, we gather today to launch the works of artist Leila Al-Ahmadieh, who undertakes significant efforts in collecting used clothes destined for disposal and transforming them into art pieces used in everyday life, such as handbags and decorative items, in addition to artistic paintings. For this reason, on behalf of the Rashaya Atelier Association and the Gathering of Cultural Houses in Lebanon, I propose that the Ministries of Environment and Social Affairs embrace and sponsor this work, as artist Al-Ahmadieh is ready to conduct training workshops in this regard across various Lebanese regions, and I extend this invitation to associations working in the environmental field.”
In conclusion, Al-Ahmadieh thanked the Rashaya Atelier Association for sponsoring this project and presented Dalal with a painting from the completed works.
