ACT Magazine - Issue Number 2 - July 2020

Issue Number 2 - July 2020 

See The ACT Creative Studios present the second issue of ACT, published under the title “WARDA AL HANI” 

The title of this issue is WARDA AL HANI (Madame Rose Hani - Part Two ) which is one of Gibran Khalil Gibran’s novels where he tells the story of a young woman who is married to a rich man, but she feels imprisoned. One day she finds the light inside the darkness in a young man and decides to leave her husband to witness love and modesty with this young person. Society judged her. Her powerful ex-husband made use of his power to put her reputation to question. but she didn’t really care because she knows everyone’s story and decided to have her own. She decides to live for love.

How many Wardas have you seen? Being judged for their life choices and their decisions. How many men used their powerful voice and social positions to put the reputation of the women that they love (who didn’t share the same interest) in question. How many persons are like Gibran, take the time to actually seek the truth and decide what is the right thing to do? We chose this novel by Gibran as the title of our second issue because it best describes how society objectifies woman for their actions.

A hint of what to come in this issue; So many women sharing the same and different point of views, stories about experiences they face as women, stories about daily battles and a society that keeps on reminding them that they need to do more. Not one day do they feel any kind of freedom to just be, and when they do, they are put to question again. Stories of women. A society that objectifies women.

A vision by Wassim Fakhoury, Editor in chief and visual director

ACT (Art, Culture and Talent) is a visual ART magazine, with a platform for expression. A place to create, communicate and inspire. It is a journey, a trip for your mind and an escape from your daily problems. A play with all the elements; a full official ACT.
The process we went through to create this magazine is the same we go through when writing a movie: the research and the longing for expression.

ACT creates a tribe so you can belong; it can be your comfort place and escape. It presents articles that express and represent each one of the contributors in their own words.

The subjects that ACT treats in every issue, are related to so many factors from social situations and observation, to politics, economy and travel; keeping in mind that art is at the center of everything; It is an inclusive project of all forms of visual expression.

ACT is the result of long years of cinema and filmmaking studies, art direction projects and a career of fashion and styling.

Artists cannot be framed into only one category or lifestyle. Once an artist, always an artist. A real one who breathes art day and night. One who sees it in every aspect of daily life where inspiration is just everywhere, and if you are really trained and your brain is used to seeing it, you will.

It is a long project of commitment, persistence and a process of observation.
A project of an outsider trying to fit in, but fighting the process with art. After long observation and research came the necessity to create a new art magazine. Reading may have been neglected for some time, and it has become a forgotten activity we used to enjoy and practice back in the day.

So, we made sure our visual, with all its artistry and creativity, is as important as the words and articles we included. One of the very amusing activity we used to enjoy was coloring, so we added a couple of pages for you to reconnect with yourself and re-center your mind.

Sometimes literature and poems can take you to places with one key to access: your imagination. It was IMPORTANT to add this extra level of inspiration, so you can create and imagine it yourself.

Take some time off your phone screens, because nothing can be compared to the smell of books. Disconnect from your phones and re-connect with yourself and get inspired.

The lights go off, a spotlight unveils the curtains, they announce:

“Please turn off your phones and enjoy the act”

People applause, the curtains open revealing the stage covered with decorative elements.
The orchestra plays music and you are taken by the violin.

You begin to see the ACT as the characters reveal the truth behind their masks.

Most of the contributors in this issue are from Beirut, Lebanon. Our prayers go out to them and our Beautiful city of Beirut which suffered a tragic explosion that rocked our spirits. Stay strong and continue to push forward. Love ACT

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