Zahraa Ali Eljundi
Zahraa Eljundi (b. 2001) is a Lebanese artist based in Beirut, working in drawing, painting, and printmaking, with a practice extending to poetry writing. Eljundi holds a BFA in Plastic Arts from the Faculty of Fine Arts at The Lebanese University.
The surreal, fanciful, and absurd, European tales, literature, films, and animation, along with her personal stories inspire her artistic expression. Eljundi's artworks explore the concept of "Uncanny and dark beauty," bringing forward states often ignored or feared, such as melancholy, death, and isolation, by uncovering their overlooked aesthetic. At the core of the practice lies a deep, unconditional admiration for all souls, which manifests in the focus on animal and, at times, human figures. Animals, in particular, symbolize purity and innocence. Their lack of consciousness allows them to express nothing but their raw, unfiltered feelings, offering a stark contrast to humans, whose emotional intensity may get overshadowed by their self-awareness.
The work is surreal and subtly conceptual, marked by unrealistic, absurd transformations and narrative layers that highlight inner complexities.
Top image: Untitled. Charcoal and soft pastel on canvas.
"Last night, my tears forced you to devour my infected eye. I know you are just a beautiful, delicate child, and I see that all you wanted was to ease my agony. While they burst your spirit, believing you to be no more than a savage devil.
Don’t be afraid though, my baby, stop sobbing so desperately. I am the only woman who can realize the purity etched into your miserable face… And for this, I will bury you within the darkest corners of my mind, forever."
Image: Untitled. Charcoal and soft pastel on canvas.
Image: Untitled. Charcoal and felt pen on canvas.
“The raw combination of imagery and fragmented phrases, layered with the green scribbles in this drawing reflect the grief and the lingering innocence in the face of death.”
Below image: Untitled. Charcoal and felt pen on canvas.
“This triptych explores themes of vulnerability and isolation by representing a surreal animal figure, emerging from a grayscale background, paired with handwritten French text that highlights the idea of abandonment, and the human need for safety. The interplay of delicate shading and raw handwriting creates a dialogue between fragility and assertion.”
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