In this captivating series, Ghaleb Hawila stares Ego in the face. A pivotal moment in his profound journey to comprehend and experience the true essence and myth that shroud the Ego.

A seeker by nature, the artist in him never actually found solace within the confines of Western or Freudian psychoanalytical views on the self. He looked to the mystical East, the land of Taoism and Confucianism where holistic perspectives were nurtured on self and body. That Eastern paradigm gave the artist a more harmonious approach to the subject of the Ego, one that acknowledges the individuality and interconnectedness of all beings.

Ghaleb's quest did not stop there, he sought to further understand the Sufis’ dogmas on Nafs -the soul-, and their naming of the five stages of Ego. They also believe that these stages need to be surpassed to attain unity with the Divine.

The opening artwork is a trilogy named Trigonal Selves. These three art pieces interweave Western views on self, Ego, Id, and super-ego, and the Sufis’ three layers of Ego, the Commanding, the Blaming, and the Contended one. Aesthetically, these pieces display a captivating synthesis of centered boldness and a subtle dialogue of color and texture.

Then comes the emergence of quintet art pieces embodying the holistic Eastern philosophy and its connectedness to the element of nature. They reflect the Taoism path of letting go of the ego and embracing spontaneity and simplicity. In every layer, one can witness colors evolving into maturity through letting go, rebirth after destruction, and reaching long-awaited harmony.

The final stop in his artistic pilgrimage is a diptych of two Sufi adapts’ mesmerizing dance while facing each other named Ignorant Darwich. The title reflects the paradoxical nature of spiritual enlightenment, realization, and blissful ignorance.

The adapted heads are highlighted in this diptych and are illuminated in a manner that defies geometry, symbolizing secrets that can only be experienced but not told. As for the heads of the Darwichs, they are inclined toward the floor in reverent submission to the presence of the Almighty.