Sibni Ahlam Sibni

Sibni Ahlam Sibni
Undergraduate final project

This project was my final project for my undergraduate studies at the American University of Beirut.
Illustration and photography to tell my ambivalence with this tradition.

I told my parents story, who married arranged, and my mother's past love story,
and my struggle with the binary decision of love vs. arranged marriage.
Through different experiments in illustration, photography & mixed media,
I was able to tell the story in a non-chronological fashion, using a subversive tone to challenge
traditional expressions on wedding cards, and using fiction to follow possible scenarios that could have shaped my story differently.

This project was awarded the Creative Achievement Award by the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture in AUB.

cover

Chapter 1: Introduction
Some of the characters in this story relate to reality and others are fictive.
Asma, Dima & Nathalie meet on the balcony of their home on Zarif Street, to sip their coffee.

The Family Registry:
Asma Dabbous Tannir, Asma Dabbous Badran. 1986
Nathalie Badran. 1993
Dima Tannir, Dima Tannir Dada. 2009

Chapter 2: Assumption
All that did not take place in reality, happened in fiction.

Ghassan is my father & Wadih is my mother's old lover.

Ghassan & Wadih meet.
Wadih: "How is Asma?"
Ghassan: "She's fine, thank God."

Wadih:"Nathalie is safe with you."
Ghassan: "Nathalie is your daughter?"
Wadih: "Yes, Nathalie."

Ghassan didn't understand anything.

Wadih used to tell Asma, "if you ever leave me, I will hang a big sign on the door of your house that says 'Cabaret Samira'."
Samira is my grandmother.

Asma and Wadih got married, but due to the war that took place in 1978 they couldn't find a photographer,
so all that remains of their wedding is the invitation card.
Asma kept it.

On the card it says:
Sami Badran & his wife Jamil Dabbous & his wife
are honored to invite you to the wedding of their children
Wadih & Asma
at 8 o'clock on Saturday June 17th, 1978 at the Sursock Gardens
RSVP before June 7, 1978
Flowers have not been arranged (bring flowers) Wedding heavens are their children (bring your children)

Who said Asma & Ghassan are not in love?
Asma & Ghassan love each other dearly.
They married out of love to being with.

Asma & Ghassan, everlasting love.

My aunt Hana putting the jewelry on my mother.
Mom and Dad and I at the engagement.
Mom and Dad and I at the wedding.

"Hope they are happy" and zalghoutas, This is what I heard while waiting for Mom & Dad here.
Mom & Dad and I sitting at the wedding.

Chapter 3: Encounter
A look, a smile, a date, an encounter.

Asma went to meet Wadih at Horseshoe.
She arrived & didn't find Wadih.
She took the phone off the bar & dialled his home.
His brother picked up.

Brother: "Hello, hello."
Asma:"Hello, may I speak to Wadih, please?"
Brother: "Sorry, Wadih is sleeping, may I ask who is it?"
Asma: "Tell him Asma is waiting for him at Horseshoe like we agreed, at 4 pm."
Brother: "He may have forgotten, but I will certainly tell him."
Asma hangs up and turns around.

Wadih is right there laughing.

Asma & Wadih lived a love story for over 2 years between 1977 and 1978.
They met through Hector Badran who was Asma's school teacher at The Lebanese Evangelical School for Girls.
He introduced her to Wadih.