atef khodor and the art of topophilia

atef khodr is a lebanese illustrator currently residing in dubai. he accurately depicts the essence of beiruti life in a way that instantly charms anyone, who has ever lived in the lebanese capital, even if it was just for a day. guided by his deep-rooted attachment to his homeland, and the pain of existence that inherently comes with it, khodr manages to balance existentialism with candid humor, leaving his audience unsure of whether to laugh wholehear tedly or cringe while experiencing a deep sense of nostalgia for what beirut once was and what it will always represent.

interview by ralph arida

how would you describe your illustration style?

i have two styles: one of them is introspective and shows a character, who is dismantled from his body, where i like to explore themes of identity for people to reconsider the human experience. i am an overthinker, and these illustrations allow me to reflect on my thoughts in the only way i know. it makes things a little bit less overwhelming. it is basically self-therapy. my second style is psychedelic illustrations of beirut, which is more extroverted. it is my way of expressing and sharing my sense of topophilia, which is an emotional attachment to a certain place. it profoundly influences my art and provides me with a sense of roots and stability.

you include speech bubbles in some of your illustrations. are editorial cartoons an inspiration?

my style is influenced by my childhood. back in the day, i was obsessed with comic books like asterix and obelix. when i first started emulating them, i got very positive feedback. however, that is not how i want to position myself as an illustrator. i try not to let my audience dictate what i should be doing, but rather follow my instinct.

your depiction of beirut is not all love and roses. it includes daily aggravations that locals are far too familiar with. how would you describe life in beirut?

for me, beirut is a dead city that still manages to make me feel alive. it is hard to explain. it is a very complex relationship. i think about it a lot, especially in dubai. it consumes me. i love hamra, despite how messy it is, because my school was there. it holds so many memories, and i want to end up there. i guess the memories i have of beirut are what’s fueling my deep connection to the city.

you are currently based in dubai. what is life like for an expat artist?

my full-time job as a digital marketing advertiser takes a lot of my time. i deal with a lot of numbers, which couldn’t be further from my art. when i am in dubai, i am less artistically motivated than when i am in lebanon.

if you were to illustrate your favorite memory in lebanon, what would it be?

i would illustrate a street bar like those in mar mikhael. it would be in night colors, reds and oranges, with people gathering on the sidewalk.

what is the thing you miss the most about beirut?

i miss the old beirut, its comfort and having my friends around. most of them moved out of the country. dubai is very easy and convenient, which is kind of boring, as opposed to beirut, where it's less comfortable, and therefore, more stimulating. i find comfort in the hectic side of things

you often portray the lebanese people as yielding to the harsh reality of their daily lives, which rings particularly true. in your opinion, is it survival, defeat, or both?

i guess it is a mix of both, depending on your social status. three years ago, when i was still living in lebanon, it definitely felt like we had given up. we complied with the dire reality. we lived without electricity, said goodbye to our friends, and watched the city explode in 2020… it was day to day survival because we couldn’t possibly plan for the future, especially for people coming from a more humble background. it was only when i moved out that i felt the need to shake off that complacency, and start planning ahead more proactively.

can you name three good things about lebanon?

family, going to gemmayzeh for drinks, which is something i value so much more now that i live abroad, and almaza. i love that beer.

what’s next for atef khodr?

my first priority is to make more time for what i really want to do, which is to be a full-time illustrator. i want to collaborate and reach out to as many people as possible to make that happen. i am not quite sure how i want to position myself as an illustrator yet. i don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing. i enjoy the journey that comes with figuring it out.