The artist Christina Daher welcomes us into her studio in the Paris region to introduce us to her unique artistic universe.
Hello Christina, could you introduce yourself in a few words?
I was born and work in Paris. I grew up in the heart of the Vallée de Chevreuse, near the Vaux de Cernay, a place beloved by the Pre-Impressionists and known for its waterfalls and sandstone rocks. I am a graduate of Penninghen and the École Boulle. I worked for 16 years as an art director in the luxury sector and as a designer.
How did art come into your life?
My father attended the Fine Arts School and often drew at home. I was already interested in art as a child. As a teenager, I spent much of my free time painting in my room. I didn’t always visit museum exhibitions because I lived in the countryside, but I had a collection of books on 20th-century painters. I was passionate about the works of Paul Klee, Kandinsky, Nicolas de Staël… I loved those moments when I painted; I loved that solitude. I painted a lot, and it resonated within me, almost like an obsession. My best friend painted as well. We would exchange our paintings and exhibit together.
I naturally continued my studies in this field and graduated from ESAG Penninghen in 2004. Driven by my passion for imagery, I worked for over 16 years as an Art Director (graphic designer) for major luxury brands. In this role, I handled large-scale advertising campaigns and coordinated numerous talents from diverse professions—photographers, directors, set designers, illustrators… I wanted to create “beauty,” to share images that transport and evoke emotions. Unfortunately, with the rise of fully digital workflows, this profession took a turn that no longer allowed me to thrive professionally. At the same time, I graduated from the École Boulle and worked on interior design projects.
In recent years, my need to create has pushed me to reconnect with my first love: painting.
What kind of artist are you, and what kind of relationship do you have with creativity?
Creativity has always been a part of my life and professional journey. I paint to travel, to escape the city, to be transported elsewhere, into nature, a serene environment, or an imaginary world that feels restorative. Working with water or sand, though very different, both give me a sense of calm and peace, as if time itself is suspended.
How would you define your style and artistic universe?
I am inspired by nature, and more specifically by the natural world, stone, rock fragments, organic forms, references to the elements around us… This leads me to represent it in all its forms, playing with textures and materials. I use colored inks to enhance their transparency, capture their light, and create a sense of mystery. I explore the contrast between a subject associated with strength and rigidity and a representation that is light, fluid, and transparent…
In my paintings, I aim to share emotions. There is a search for balance through form, color, and light. These are living works that reveal glimpses of light and vibrate with water. They feature highly defined organic forms that hold within them emotions, random vibrations, and lights that are uncontrollable. One must let it happen, accept the unknown, and be surprised. I am always seeking a minimalist yet powerful equilibrium.
What are your sources of inspiration?
My inspirations come primarily from nature, the landscapes of the Vallée de Chevreuse where I grew up, Brittany where I spend much of my time, and also the Qadisha Valley, known as the Holy Valley, a major site of Lebanon’s natural and spiritual heritage, with its stunning landscapes and rocks suspended between sky and earth. I have always believed that the path to art passes through nature and the respect we have for it.
Although abstract, my canvases evoke landscapes, whether real or imagined. An abstraction that sometimes almost touches a figurative universe. My work deliberately challenges the distinction between abstraction and figuration.
The painters who inspire me are Etel Adnan, Paul Klee, Nicolas de Staël, Anna-Eva Bergman, and Helen Frankenthaler.
What would you say to an artist just starting out today?
I would tell them to listen to themselves and let their intuition guide their creativity. Not to be afraid of not pleasing others. To follow their own desires.