Shanoor Devarj – The visitor

Description

Artist Statement

In life, we may seem surrounded, but I’ve often felt that we are ultimately alone. For me, art on the canvas has become a universal language, a way to reach out and connect with people, transcending that sense of isolation.When I arrived in Chicago at 26, I brought with me a deep passion for visual storytelling, which I had been
nurturing since my studies in filming at the Art Institute of Chicago. My background in advertising design from London opened doors in the commercial world, and I was fortunate to work as an art director at Leo Burnett. But despite the opportunities that came my way, painting has always been the one constant in my life—a practice that began when I was just six years old and has stayed with me ever since.
Coming from a family that has known the pain of displacement, I feel a constant urgency to express and,in some ways, to disrupt. This sense of dislocation drives me to reinvent my world on the canvas,challenging myself and others to confront the unfamiliar.I describe my style as Neo Symbolic Expressionism, a reflection of the extreme conditions of our time. My work is rooted in a surrealistic mindset; it aims to captivate and sometimes shock, drawing viewers into a world where the familiar becomes strange. In this world, eyes might multiply, lips stretch beyond the
ordinary, and hands take on forms that defy expectation. My goal is to create a space where reality is pushed into the realm of the super-real, crafting a new vision on the canvas.The tragedies in my life have shaped and reshaped the characters that emerge in my work. I thrive in a world of free expressionism, channeling the displacement my ancestors experienced into the creation of something entirely new. This sense of displacement has driven me to forge my own world—a world populated by characters that exist on the edge of the real and the unreal. Through my art, I’ve sought not
only to establish my identity but also to reinvent hyper reality, emerging into a new world.

Artist Biography

Shanoor is an American Neo-symbolic expressionist, artist, designer, creative director, photographer, and CEO of Devarj Design Agency, Inc. With a career spanning five decades, he has left an indelible mark on the art world and beyond.
Shanoor’s artistic journey began at the age of 16 in Beirut, Lebanon. It was there, amidst the vibrant and tumultuous cultural landscape, that he participated in a milestone group show at Gallery Contemporain alongside prominent Middle Eastern artists Rafic Charaf, Fateh Al Mudarress, and Juliana Séraphim.
However, the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975 forced him to leave his homeland and migrate to the United States.Before settling in Chicago, Shanoor pursued his education in advertising design, earning a BFA from
London’s Barking College. Upon his arrival in Chicago in 1975, he furthered his studies in film at the Art Institute of Chicago. This blend of artistic and commercial training laid the foundation for a successful career in art direction, branding, and design, where he worked with prestigious agencies such as Leo Burnett and BBDO. In 1984, he founded Devarj Design Agency, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his professional life.Throughout his career in design, Shanoor never ceased to explore his passion for painting. He began experimenting with unconventional materials, including large un-stretched canvases, shower curtains, and
found paper, pushing the boundaries of his creative expression. His innovative approach has led to solo exhibitions in both alternative and traditional art spaces, as well as worldwide gallery tours.Shanoor’s work has been showcased in esteemed galleries such as Casa Del Arte in Palma, Spain,Thomson Gallery Fine Art in Switzerland, Johnathan Schultz Gallery in Miami, Lelie Gallery in Amsterdam,
and New York Art Week. His art has also been featured in exhibitions across Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, South Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, and internationally in Berlin, Greece, Dubai, and the Venice Biennale