day

The following drawings are based on a subjective interpretation of Brian Keenan's book 'An Evil Cradling'.
I have drawn many parallels with this text, especially its location, the place of my birth, Lebanon.
I started this body of work in August 2000 and continued an obsessive line of investigation into this subject till 2002 with the completion of a short video/sound piece, ' days merge into night'.

night

Brian Keenan went to Beirut in 1985 for a change of scene from his native Belfast.He became headline news when he was kidnapped by fundamentalist Shi'ite militamen and held in the suburbs of Beriut for the next four and a half years. For most of this time Brian was shut off from all news and contact with anyone other than his jailers.

interrogation

waves of anguish

Sitting, stuck in the 'waves of his mind', I pictured Brian's body neglected, sore and eaten by mosquitoes.
When making these initial pictures I wasn't interested in capturing 'likeness or a resemblance' to Brian - but was just concerned with trying to portray the emotions he experienced.

captive

turbulent times

In this charcoal drawing I was attempting to communicate the mental turmoil that Brian Keenan went through during his captivity. Charcoal can be such an expressive medium when used to its full potential.

imagined visitors

reflection in a spoon

self knowledge

fallen sick

keenan - cell

the imprisionment of Brian Keanan

These are some of the first 'Keenan' drawings I made. This set of drawings was me attempting to translate the space (cell) that Keenan had to occupy.