Meet The Art Foundation Celebrating Lebanese Creativity Through Its Rich Cuisine
The new Em Sherif Art Foundation is celebrating Lebanese art and creativity abroad through the country's rich cuisine
Bringing together both outstanding cuisine and inspiring art, Em Sherif is now expanding its celebration of Lebanon's culture beyond the dining table, offering Lebanese creators a platform to showcase their creative talents worldwide with the newly formed Em Sherif Art Foundation.
Created by Em Sherif founder and chef Mireille Hayek – along with brother and CEO Dani Chakour, and son and curator Sherif Hayek – the Em Sherif Art Foundation is a non-profit organisation with a mission to nurture and promote Lebanese artists through Em Sherif restaurants around the world. Within these collaborations, this ambitious initiative aims to provide increased visibility for artists, raising awareness for Lebanese art and culture on the international stage.
Meaning 'The Mother of Sherif' in Arabic, Mireille Hayek opened her first Em Sherif restaurant in Beirut in 2011, as a contemporary take on traditional Lebanese food and familial hospitality, passed down from generation to generation. The brand has since exploded in popularity, with 24 venues across 12 cities around the world, including Doha, Monaco, London and Dubai.
'The Art Foundation is another meaningful way for us to give back to our beloved Lebanese community,' Mireille Hayek told Bazaar. 'Our passion and mission remain the same; to offer our guests an invigorating and wholesome experience that sparks curiosity and nourishes the heart and soul.'
'Art has always been part of my life,' adds Sherif Hayek. 'I studied it, worked in galleries and began collecting early on. At the same time, I've always been inspired by what my family built with Em Sherif. [This is] the perfect opportunity to bring these two worlds together.'
This venture transforms Em Sherif restaurants into cultural hubs where food, design and art blend together. Upon entering, diners are presented with an 'art menu', highlighting the artists on display and their works, allowing both audiences and artists to engage with one another. This strengthens the position of Lebanese creatives within the worldwide art scene, providing much needed exposure.
Currently showing at Em Sherif Café in Paris, Ziad Antar is a Beirut-based artist and photographer; the Em Sherif Art Foundation's first exhibitor. Born in 1978, his practice focuses on the material complexity of photography, pushing it beyond its traditionally documentary nature, and interrogating the unpredictability of the image creation process.
'We are steadfast in our commitment to supporting local talent and deeply believe in the extraordinary creativity of our people,' said Mireille Hayek. 'To the wider Em Sherif community, the Art Foundation stands as our enduring promise to celebrate and share the very best of our city and its people. We can't imagine a more beautiful or powerful way to do so.'
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