ListeAsks Marwan T

#ListeAsks Marwan T. Assaf, Collector, Curator, Member of a committee at Tate, Founding Benefactor Beirut Art Center, Beirut: What is something that you never thought would happen but that has now happened as a result of the lockdown?⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ "It was difficult to imagine we would live to see this dystopian situation with its Orwellian restrictions until it suddenly became reality a few months ago because of the pandemic. The buzzword “new normal” has an uncanny ring to it, it almost sounds post-revolutionary.⁠⠀ In addition, the sight of people going about wearing masks is not something that many could have envisaged. But this may have a good side to it, and not just for protection against the virus; the mask, paradoxically, makes the Other look and feel less alien. Five decades ago, in speaking about the masked figures in his photographic series “The Family Album of Lucybelle Crater", Ralph Eugene Meatyard said the masks erase the differences between people. But can this greater sense of understanding survive when the masks are no longer needed? Could this whole pandemic episode be heralding a kinder, gentler situation? I hope so, but it is wise not to be too starry-eyed."⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Read the whole interview via link in bio. ⁠⠀⁠⠀ ⁠⠀⁠⠀ Portrait Image: Marwan T. Assaf⁠, Credit: Christopher Baaklini⁠⠀ ⁠⠀⁠⠀ Image of the first artwork purchased at Liste:⁠⠀ Maciej Kurak, "Is it Important who Stands behind the Painting", sculpture, acrylic resin, and cloth, 170cm, 2007. Courtesy lokal 30 gallery. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #Liste2020 #ListeArtFair #ListeArtFairBasel #MarwanTAssaf⁠⠀