As part of the Institut Francais Liban’s second edition of ‘Beyrouth Livres’ Dar El-Nimer will be hosting The Art of Boo ’s (Bernard Hage) ‘Non-Political Hassles’ exhibition.
“One inherent human trait that manifests itself from birth and endures throughout our entire lives is whining. It serves as a remarkable means of expressing ourselves, and this inclination remains constant as we age.
What's intriguing is that while we find solace in whining ourselves, we can also become easily irritated when we hear others doing it – unless, of course, they manage to do it in an entertaining manner. Take, for instance, artists, comedians, performers, and other professional whiners who have mastered the art of monetizing their annoyances, allowing them to pay their bills through the skill of whining.
I’ve always harbored a deep desire to become a professional whiner, and for a while, I achieved that by voicing my grievances about the political situation in Lebanon. However, the repetitive, oppressive, and disheartening nature of Lebanese politics, which have reached a level more absurd than the cartoons I could ever offer, have compelled me to redirect my focus towards other facets of life's annoyances. And fortunately, there are plenty.
In the following collection, I present my ultimate list of non-political hassles that I've gathered over the years. May these whiny drawings provide a lighthearted approach and a welcome distraction from the weighty and uncontrollable matters that loom large, offering you the momentary escape you need”. Bernard Hage
Bernard Hage, commonly known as “The Art of Boo”, is an illustrator and cartoonist who struggled with writing his own biography while referring to himself in the third person.
He was born by accident and grew up in a small and boring town, which had no electricity, infrastructure, or girls. Bernard received his education at an accessible private school, where highly experienced tutors greatly contributed to corrupting his sense of creativity. During his early years, he succeeded in getting himself into undesirable situations, which helped nurture his childhood traumas, and was credited by renowned bullies for always being in the wrong place at the right time. He also succeeded in getting friend-zoned countless of times and has been hailed as a “brilliant listener”.
Bernard chose a career in advertising that eradicated his ethics and social life simultaneously, so he quit his job in 2012. After surviving a profound existential crisis, he hosted his first solo exhibition, Undressed – Society’s Reflection in Its Brands at Artlab gallery, Beirut, in 2014. He then launched his first book of illustrated short stories and an original music soundtrack titled In the Dead of Night – Bedtime Stories for Grown Ups in 2017. His father missed both events.
His recent book, Anatomy of A Hummus Plate, published in April 2021, is a compilation of social and political cartoons that documents Lebanon’s economic and political collapse. Launched in Beirut, the book received disappointing reviews, most of which originated from furious vegans who were misled by the title and thought the content was no laughing matter.
Bernard is known best for his cartoons. He’s published with The Economist, L’Orient Le Jour, and other publications that offered him a very large amount of exposure in return for his hard work.
Currently he resides in Berlin, where he pursues his dream of becoming a young millionaire by introducing sense of humor to the local community.