During his last visit to Lebanon after a long absence, Teymour Toutounji spoke of his love for Lebanon, his passion for the Land of the Cedars and its beautiful sites. His love for chemistry and perfumes triggered his senses to a world of colorful images and pushed him to give life to these reflections straight into his paintings. "For me, an art piece is like a perfume. It is a mix of chemicals to get an artistic vision". At the end of his 5 year-old experience in the perfumery industry, the influence of the English city over him projected images and urged him to mix other chemicals, something new, and therefore blending colors.
He studied drawing for a good two years and a half and learned the techniques he ought to know in little time to convey the talent he possessed. With a background of a chemist, Teymour discovered his talent at a mature age and began painting at 26. He called himself an abstract painter. "It is very easy to paint a piece of art out of the images you see, but an abstract art is not a simple reproduction of what you see. It is more of a reflection of your inner self in the outcome, you can see it through many different angles, so many movements in the picture…", he said. He has no explanation of why did he start painting on such a mature age, but for him it was an urge, an image he has to bring it to life.
He started with water colors, and definitely revolutionized the material he is using. In the past, he was just projecting colors, and now he reflects his feelings, the colors he is feeling the need to express. A joyful painter that he is, he stopped painting during the unfortunate events of July 2006 in Lebanon, "my brush just faded and went drain on me, I had nothing to say, no painting to paint for three months… although it has been only 5 years that I have discovered Lebanon and my roots". He has exhibited his work in Graffiti Hamra in 2008 and was delighted to interact with the Lebanese artists.
Although he has been everywhere and inspired by so many cultures due to his constant relocation, he still aspires to discover the beautiful culture of China and Japan. Teymour Toutounji is a breath of fresh air amidst the sad and confused artist, he knows well what he wishes to express, bright vivid colors translating a beautiful reflection of everything he seizes.
