Ayman Baalbaki's symbolism of Lebanon

One of the icons that Ayman became very famous for was the use of the keffiyeh (or kufiya), an Arabian headdress traditionally used in arid regions for protection from sand, dust and sunburn. It has actually been around for thousands of years.

Today it is seen as a symbol of the freedom fighter because it has become to represent the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel. Ayman never saw it this way, he saw this as some kind of a hero.

He grew up in the jewish quarter called Wadi Abu Jamil, which was considered a safe part of Beirut. The people in the neighbourhood (which also included people from the south of Lebanon as well as Kurds) tend to like colorful cloth, they use it in dresses and in their homes.

As a playful homage this very serious figure, Ayman took these materials and stretched them on his canvas and uses them as a symbol to remind people  about his background and his people.

Ayman was also very careful to make the character somewhat androgynous meaning you can't tell whether it's a male or a female.