February 26, 2021 Artist interview with Léa Nasnas Chami

https://www.tokyoartfair.com/artistinterviews/2021/2/26/artist-interview-with-la-nasnas-chami?fbclid=IwAR1H19AeFE0ZRvuUF3x5UHXX9QcK92ismj5Nwu-Gj42-Ggej85rpvte0x0s

Born: Lebanon 1981 Live:  Oslo Norway

Léa is a self taught artist, with a style of her own, born in Lebanon on November 29th 1981. When her parents divorced, in the midst of the Lebanese civil war, Léa and her little brother fled to Paris, France. They lived there with their grandmother for several years. After their mother remarried with a Norwegian man when Léa was 10, they moved to Oslo in Norway to reunite with her.

In 1999, she left home and went to Lebanon to study international relations at USJ in Beirut. She then specialized in corporate communication at ECS in Paris, France, where she met her husband. They settled back in Lebanon in 2004 where she has worked in journalism, event production and communication management. Due to the chaotic situation in Lebanon, Léa and her husband decided to move to Oslo, Norway with their children in 2020 for a fresh start.

Léa started to paint in 2003 to express her high sensitivity and supressed emotions and fell in love with the colors and fluidity of paint. She lets her inner child guide her hand while she paints. This is why she signs her artworks "Ley" by the short of her nickname "Leyouche".

Her unique style caught the eye of plenty as she loves to depict hearts, wings, meaningful places and strong emotions. Léa describes her style as "emotion-art" and often paints using blue, bright or metallic acrylic colors.

Léa participated in exhibitions worldwide and has her own limited edition line of products on https://leanasnas.redbubble.com

If you would have to impress the press (TV/Radio) with your artworks – how would you describe your works in order to stand out from other exhibitors:

My art style is unique, it is like an abstract expressionism of emotions. All my paintings tell an emotional story. My artworks are truly an expression of my deepest emotions on canvas without any censorship or filter. If I am happy, I paint happy paintings with bright colors and when I’m angry I use a darker palette. It’s a way for me to accept that “This is how I feel right now” and to tell others that “it is ok to feel that way” too. The blue hues of my mindfulness series bring hope and a sense of grounding to the viewer as I feel while I am painting them. I also have a collection in tribute of Van Gogh whom I truly admire. I let my inner child guide my paint strokes that‘s why I instinctively sign my paintings “Ley”, the short of my nickname “Leyouche”.

How would you describe yourself? And your artwork?

I smile to strangers and love to help others. Especially when I play matchmaking for my single connections. My friends call me “Cupidon” the name of the cute little angel of love… I collect angel figurines and my home is very colorful and cozy, especially at Christmas time with all my special decorations. I could never live without Christmas, Chocolate, human relations, spirituality and natural sunlight. My artwork is raw emotions on canvas. I love to use blue hues, bright colors and metallic paint. Hearts, wings, and abstract impression of emotions are my favorite subjects.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from all kinds of emotions, love, meaningful relationships, the beauty of nature, the sound of birds singing, piano playing, poetic songs with beautiful lyrics and music.

I know my artwork is finished when…?

When I feel an artwork is done, I hang it in my living room and look at it for a few weeks. Than I know it needs some extra work… I sign the artwork when I feel it is finished after I hung it and looked at it without feeling it needs anything more.

Which are your favorite artists?

My favorite painters/visual artists are: Vincent Van Gogh, Yayoi Kusama, Gustav Klimt, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Romero Britto, Lisa Concannon, Da Wack (Mika’s sister Yasmine Penniman)

Best exhibition ever participated in…?

The best exhibition I ever participated in was definitely “Art Connects Women” in Dubai. It was organized by Zee Arts Gallery and gathered 100 artworks by women from 100 different countries. It also was my last real exhibition before the covid lockdown, in March 2020. I was proudly representing my adoptive land, Norway and connected with great women from around the world. The whole exhibition and program was around equality and the quality of the whole event was outstanding.  I am looking forward to other exhibitions and would love to show my art on all the continents.

What dream you ever had you still remember?

I was going through a dark moment in my life and Jesus appeared in my dream he was so pure, and compassionate. There was a warm light all around him and he showed me I could rely on him and offered me a hug. This is why I painted him on a human size with a sunshine impression all around him. That painting will stay in the middle of our home, to remind me that I can always rely on him and I can always hug him if I need some comfort.

What other hobbies do you have? / What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

I have worked in communication and event management and started to paint to express my great sensitivity and suppressed emotions. After a thorough therapy using traditional CBT, I met my Integrative Stress Manager mentor and practiced Emotional Liberation Breathing, while he coached me to find my balance.  I discovered a passion to emotional healing and enrolled in an ISMC course to coach others and help patients more efficiently. I am also a certified Biodecoding counselor and I practice Art Therapy. I think art and therapy should both be funded because it really is hard to make a living out of art if you don’t have the right connections and art is an essential part of life and healing. By becoming a better version of yourself you help the world evolve too.

What’s your favourite artwork?

I don’t have a favourite artwork. All my paintings are the product of my emotional experience and of course some of them bring me more peace when I look at them, just like a picture of good moments that bring you joyful memories… but the darker paintings also show me that I got through this and kept growing and moving forward. So I love these too.

Léa Nasnas Chami is a self taught Norwegian artist born in Lebanon in 1981. Léa grew up in Paris, and Oslo during the Lebanese civil war and after her parents' divorce.

She started to paint while she was in Paris for her communication Masters degree. Léa painted first to express her suppressed emotions and fell in love with the fluidity of paint. She than developed a unique style of her own that she describes as "Emotion-art".

Each of her artworks is a visual emotional outburst of her highly-sensitive child-like wonder of the world, captivating vibrancy embellished with dominant blues and metallic acrylic colors.

Léa is fascinated by the life and artwork of Vincent Van Gogh to whom she dedicated some paintings. Her art is more of a contemporary semi-abstract art and often depicts hearts, wings and fireworks. She often uses bright and metallic colors when she is doing “happy art”, a lot of blue hues when she is more in a meditative mindfulness state and some dark colors when she wants to express more painful feelings…She lets her inner child guide her hand when she paints therefore she signs her artworks “Ley” by the short of her nickname “Leyouche”.

After exhibiting in the UAE, in several European cities, in Lebanon and in the USA, Léa's art finally crosses the Pacific Ocean to be showcased at the Tokyo International Art fair.

Women artists around the world book - Art connects women 2020 - by Zee Arts

Luca Curci talks with Léa Nasnas Chami during ANIMA MUNDI FESTIVAL 2019 by Its Liquid at Palazzo Ca’Zanardi

Self taught Norwegian artist Léa Nasnas Chami, born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1981. She saw painting as an outlet to channel the sensitivity and supressed emotions within herself. Léa's foundness for colours and fluidity of paint, coupled with her child like wonder of the world around her, results in works of captivating vibrancy embellished with dominant blues and metallic acrylic colours. Léa describes her style as "Emotion Art" as she delves into subjects matters of hearts, wings, and meaningful places that evokes strong emotions.

https://www.itsliquid.com/interviewlea-nasnas.html

INTERVIEW: LEA NASNAS

INTERVIEWS | SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 |

Luca Curci talks with Lea Nasnas during ANIMA MUNDI FESTIVAL 2019 – CONSCIOUSNESS at Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi.

She is self taught artist who grew up in various countries because of the lebanese civil war and her parents divorce. Because of her high sensitivity, she started to paint to express my suppressed emotions. Her art often depicts hearts, wings and fireworks. She usually uses bright and metallic colors when she is doing “happy art”, a lot of blue hues when she is more in a meditative mindfulness state and some dark colors when she wants to express pain…She is fascinated by the life and artwork of Vincent Van Gogh to whom she dedicated some paintings. She have a unique style and all her paintings tell an emotional story. She let her inner child guide her hand when she paints therefore she signs her artworks “Ley” by the short of her nickname “Leyouche”

Luca Curci – What is art for you?

Lea Nasnas – Art for me is a way to show others how I see emotions and the worls. It has helped me release suppressed emotions and also express things that I couldnt find words for.

In general I think art is a way of showing others the things you want to show them from your own perspective.

LC – What are you currently working on?

LN – I am currently working on a lot of different projects.

One of them is a tribute to Jean michel Othoniel’s work at Angouleme’s cathedral.

An other one is about thriving. It is still not very clear in my mind so when I get my ideas I wait for them to mature a bit before letting them out on the canvas.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?

LN – The most challenging part about creating my artworks is that sometimes I am scared to face the emotions that need to be released.

LC – What is your creative process like?

LN – I have a very high sensitivity and I get inspiration by everything I see and feel.

When I get an idea I start drafting it on a piece of paper. I need to let it out right away so if you see me doodle on a place mat at a restaurant something big will come up soon.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?

LN – The main focus of my artworks are emotions. If I feel Joy for example and can see how Joy looks lile for me and I need to share it to the world. People can say its abstract art. I call my art emotion art.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works?

LN – The artwork I presented during the consciousness part of the festival was selected from previous works. But I also could have done one just for the exhibition. I have a serie of artworks that focus on consciousness and mindfulness. Mostly in blue hues with movemements flowing. I do these artworks in a meditative state and do not premeditate how they will come out.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? In which way did it inspire you?

LN – The festival is very interesting. The Palazzo di Ca’ Zanardi is a beautiful place for this kind of shows. Seeing artworks from other artists always inspire me to push harder.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?

LN – Of course. Giulia especially has been very helpful and always responsive to my emails. It is very important for the artist to feel safe and heard.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?

LN – I am looking forward to work again with you. And finally visit Venice and meet you in person.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?

LN – Its great! It gives emerging artists the chance to exhibit in amazing places.

Press release about World Art Dubai 2019

Unique emotion-art paintings by international artist Ley at World Art Dubai 2019

05 Apr 2019

World Art Dubai is hosting many artists from all over the world, with many different styles and for affordable prices. When you visit booth W59, you discover a promising artist that has a style of her own. Léa Nasnas Chami is a self-taught artist born in Beirut, Lebanon; who grew up between Paris, France and Oslo, Norway. She started painting to express her high sensitivity and supressed emotions. Léa lets her inner child guide her hand while she paints. This is why she signs her works "Ley" by the short of her nickname "Leyouche". Her unique style has caught the eye of plenty as she loves to depict hearts, wings, meaningful places and strong emotions. She calls her style "emotion-art" and often paints using blue, bright or metallic acrylic colors. For her first exhibition in Dubai, Léa painted two "joyful Dubai" artworks representing Burj khalifa and Burj Al Arab with fireworks. Pass by her booth W59 before April 6th at the World Art Dubai Fair in Sheik Saeed halls of the Dubai world Trade Center.

Interview with Darine Saleh

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B2vsoJ6HTjv/?igshid=19ke36e6h1op3&fbclid=IwAR2NALsdZNQpF3y8lvNnA3wR2mk6_VUsk9W0QWIGUwN06Jft7YOOqEplt8c

Interview for Mariam TV - Lebanon

During the Exhibition that took place at Hotel Alexandre September 2019. the interview is in arabic. I explain that Life is beautiful and that Love is everywhere. We just have to turn around and appreciate all the little things: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1419938641488706&id=440287926120454&sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e

Interview World Art Dubai - April 2019