Avis, an artistic intervention published in the Lebanese newspaper L’Orient le Jour on 04/30/2016.
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Avis consists of a series of fake cancellations of cultural and artistic events on the same day due to “current circumstances.” Inspired by Fattouh’s research from the archive of L’Orient le Jour, the artist repeats the phrases that appeared heavily in the newspaper during April 1975 when the Lebanese civil war started and when events were canceled due to circumstances.
A big debate broke out on Facebook the same day. The false cancellations created a great controversy for the mentioned venues who did not understand that it was an artistic project and wanted to file a complaint against the newspaper. Many reactions from readers were expressed on Facebook.
The newspaper’s editor had to write a message that he posted on his Facebook page, the following day three Lebanese galleries published a «right of reply» in the same newspaper, in which they expressed their dissatisfaction. Two days later, Fattouh published a long article explaining her project and artistic statement.
The animation below was displayed the same day on the website of the Lebanese newspaper l'Orient le Jour.
