Reminiscent of Islamic manuscript layout design, Chaza Charafeddine copies in her own handwriting Franz Kafka’s letter to his father, a letter that never reached him. In an attempt to write to her father, the artist traps the viewer into her own doubts, questions the communication between daughter and father, and destabilises the original father/son conflict. As such, the artist touches upon the fears inherent in a long-lost communication. After all, a letter never written is a letter never received but is a letter written always received? Letter to the Father reveals an interest in appropriating visual elements from the past by subverting Kafka’s original German letter, copying it in Arabic, and presenting it in different forms.

Chaza Charafeddine is a Lebanese-German artist and writer whose multidisciplinary practice spans visual arts, education, dance, and literature. She studied special education at La Branche | Centre de formation en pédagogie curative et sociothérapie in Switzerland, and Eurythmy dance at the Eurythmieschule in Hamburg, Germany. After dedicating 15 years to education and dance, Charafeddine transitioned to visual arts and writing, where her evocative works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and cultural venues across Lebanon and internationally.

In addition to her visual practice, Charafeddine has made significant contributions to contemporary Arabic literature. Her first novella Flashback was published by Dar Al-Saqi in 2012, followed by her short-story collection Haqibatun Bilkade Tura in 2015. Charafeddine is represented by Agial Art/Saleh Barakat Gallery in Beirut, reflecting her prominence in both the artistic and literary spheres.