early life and career aref el rayess, a lebanese painter and sculptor, was born in 1928 in lebanon. his artistic journey began with a focus on conceptual art, often incorporating political themes. this approach set him apart from his contemporaries and earned him representation by the sfeir-semler gallery, with branches in hamburg, germany, and beirut, lebanon. artistic style and themes aref el rayess's work is characterized by its bold, thought-provoking nature. his preference for political subjects reflected his desire to engage with the socio-political climate of his time. this approach no…