{{Short description|Syrian-Lebanese poet and artist (1947–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox artist | birth_name = Maha Bayrakdar | birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|02|26|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Damascus]], [[First Syrian Republic|Syria]] | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|2|22|1947|02|26|df=y}} | death_place = | name = Maha Bayrakdar | alma_mater = Institute of Fine arts of Damascus | known_for = Poetry and painting | spouse = [[Yusuf al-Khal]] }}
'''Maha Bayrakdar Al-Khal''' (alternatively: '''Bayraqdar, Bairakdar''',{{Sfn|Zalzal|1998}} '''Birqidar,'''{{Sfn|DAMLAG editorial staff|2019}} '''Birdkar,'''{{Sfn|LBCI editorial staff|2019}} {{Langx|ar|مها بيرقدار}}; 26 February 1947 – 22 February 2025) was a [[Syrians|Syrian]]-[[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] poet and artist. Bayrakdar sketched and wrote poetry at an early age; she completed fine arts studies in her native [[Damascus]] before obtaining a business administration degree at [[LMU Munich]] in Germany. In 1967, she won the [[Miss Syria]] beauty pageant. In 1970, Bayrakdar married the Syrian-Lebanese poet [[Yusuf al-Khal]] and had two children with him, Ward and Youssef, both of whom are acclaimed actors in the [[Middle East]].
Bayrakdar published four poetry books and was a prolific painter. In addition to poetry she wrote and illustrated children's books and wrote three television series, all of which feature her children in leading roles.
== Early life and education == Maha was born in [[Damascus]] on 26 February 1947 to Mohammad Khayr Bayrakdar, a [[Syrians|Syrian]] police officer, and a [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] mother, Nazmiyya al-Amin, a painter. She was the second-born among her four siblings.{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}{{Sfn|Al-Jabboury|2003|p=276}} She attended the Khadija al-Kubra school in Damascus before her family started moving during her formative years due to the nature of her father's work. During the move, Bayrakdar was exposed to the beauty of the Syrian hinterland and began sketching and painting at an early age.{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}{{Sfn|Fakih|2017}} Her first venture into poetry came at the age of 14.{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}{{Sfn|Khal|1988|p=76}} By the age of 15 she had read all the Russian literature masterpieces; she was also interested in German literature. Bayrakdar expressed her wish to learn theater, but her father forbade her. Subsequently, she joined the Department of Illustrations in the Institute of Fine Arts of Damascus, where she received her art education and graduated in 1967.{{Sfn|Khal|1988|p=76}}{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}}{{Sfn|Al-Jabboury|2003|p=276}}{{Sfn|Fakih|2017}} She also graduated in business administration from [[LMU Munich]] in Germany in 1969.{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}}{{Sfn|Al-Jabboury|2003|p=276}}{{Sfn|Mansour|2011}}
Bayrakdar won the [[Miss Syria]] beauty pageant in 1967, an experience she avoided talking about.{{Sfn|SnackSoury staff|2020}}{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}
== Courtship and marriage == Bayrakdar went to Lebanon to print a poetry book at the [[An-Nahar]] publishing press. At the An-Nahar offices, she met her future husband [[Yusuf al-Khal]], who was 31 years her elder. Al-Khal was a poet, a writer, and an art critic who was responsible for the cultural section of the An-Nahar newspaper. Bayrakdar was instantly infatuated with him but was ired when Yusuf treated her with reserve and harshly criticized her work. Bayrakdar challenged al-Khal to read her poetry, which led him to meet her again and to express his fondness of her.{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}
In 1970 Bayrakdar married al-Khal. The couple had two children, Youssef (born on 8 September 1973) and Ward, both of whom are renowned actors.{{Sfn|Myheritage|2019}}{{Sfn|Khal|1988|p=76}} Bayrakdar, who was born and raised a [[Sunni Islam|Sunni Muslim]], converted to Christianity. Despite Yusuf being a [[Protestant]], the Khals baptized both of their children into the [[Maronite Church|Maronite Catholic Church]].{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}}
== Career == Bayrakdar's first poetry compilation that she submitted to An-Nahar was not published.{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}} Bayrakdar published a number of poetry books ''ʿeshbat al-Meleh'' (The Salt Herb, 1989), ''Rahil al-ʿanaser'' (The departure of the elements -1995), ''as-Samt'' (The silence - 2004), and ''Dawat ar-ruh'' (The cure of the soul - 2011).{{Sfn|Akhbarak editorial staff|2014}}{{Sfn|SnackSoury staff|2020}}{{Sfn|One Fine Art editorial staff|2008}}{{Sfn|Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|2004}} She wrote and illustrated children's books and wrote song lyrics.{{Sfn|One Fine Art editorial staff|2008}}{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}} Bayrakdar and Yusuf al-Khal curated the Beiruti art gallery ''Gallery One'' between 1970 and 1975.{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}}
Bayrakdar worked at National Syrian Radio and TV and in local Lebanese radio stations as a producer and presenter of cultural programs.{{Sfn|One Fine Art editorial staff|2008}}{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}} Between 1980 and 1987 she edited and illustrated the ''Dar [[Assayad]]'' publishing house magazine ''Fairuz''.{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}}{{Sfn|SnackSoury staff|2020}}{{Sfn|One Fine Art editorial staff|2008}} She was editor-in-chief of the arts and interior design magazine ''Iwan'', and also the editor-in-chief of the intellectual, cultural and artistic magazine ''Al-Jidar''.{{Sfn|One Fine Art editorial staff|2008}}{{Sfn|Karohat|2010}}{{Sfn|Fairuz editorial staff|2016}} In 2008 Bayrakdar wrote the [[Drama (film and television)|television drama series]] ''Al-ta'er al-maksour'' (The broken bird) in which both her children have leading roles; the series garnered praise with a rating of 4.3/5 by elCinema website critics.{{Sfn|DAMLAG editorial staff|2008}} In 2010 and 2013 respectively she wrote ''Noktet Hobb'' (A drop of love) and ''Kharej Az-Zaman'' (Beyond time) which featured both Ward and Youssef in leading roles.{{Sfn|DAMLAG editorial staff|2017}}{{Sfn|Ra'y al-Yawm editorial staff|2014}}
== Views == Bayrakdar did not ascribe to [[feminist literature]] and refused to put any labels on literary works.{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}} She criticized Lebanese drama shows for their monotony and lack of creative diversity.{{Sfn|Akhbarak editorial staff|2014}}
== Exhibitions == Bayrakdar held 15 [[Solo exhibition|solo]] exhibitions and 37 collective exhibitions and numerous [[poetry reading]] events in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf countries.{{Sfn|One Fine Art editorial staff|2008}}{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}{{Sfn|Fairuz editorial staff|2016}} Only 4 of her exhibitions were held in her native Syria, the last of which was before the beginning of the [[Syrian civil war]] in 2011.{{Sfn|El-Khoury|2017}}
== Death == Bayrakdar died on 22 February 2025, at the age of 77.<ref>[https://www.foochia.com/celebrities/lpd6con رحيل مها بيرقدار.. يوسف وورد الخال يودّعان والدتهما بكلمات مؤثرة] {{in lang|ar}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition == On 11 June 2004, Bayrakdar was decorated with the [[Order of Merit (Lebanon)|Order of Merit]] medal by Lebanese president [[Emile Lahoud]].{{Sfn|One Fine Art editorial staff|2008}}{{Sfn|L'Orient le Jour editorial staff|2004}} She was also awarded a recognition plaque from the [[Lebanese Armed Forces|Lebanese Army]] commandership.{{Sfn|Mansour|2011}}
== References == === Citations === <references />
=== Sources === *{{Cite web|last=Akhbarak editorial staff|date=15 September 2014|title=مها بيرقدار: الدراما اللبنانية تفتقد إلى تنوع الأقلام|trans-title=Maha Bayrakdar: Lebanese drama lacks a variety of pens|url=https://akhbarak.net/news/2014/09/15/5005164/articles/16368797/مها-بيرقدار-quot-الدراما-اللبنانية-تفتقد-إلى-تنوع-الأقلام-quot|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325131940/https://akhbarak.net/articles/16368797-مها-بيرقدار-quot-الدراما-اللبنانية-تفتقد-إلى|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=أخبارك.نت|language=ar}} *{{Cite journal|last=Asharq Al-Awsat editorial staff|date=9 May 2004|title=مها بيرقدار الخال توقع "صمت" قصائدها في بيروت|trans-title=Maha Bayraktar Al-Khal signs the "silence" of her poems in Beirut|url=https://archive.aawsat.com/details.asp?issueno=9165&article=232888|journal=Asharq Al-Awsat|language=ar|issue=9294|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325132900if_/https://archive.aawsat.com/details.asp?issueno=9165&article=232888#.YFyQSTMYCmw|archive-date=25 March 2021}} *{{Cite web|last=DAMLAG editorial staff|date=2008|title=الطائر المكسور (2008) Alttayir almaksur|url=https://elcinema.com/work/1011587/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102120603/http://www.elcinema.com/work/1011587|archive-date=2 January 2018|access-date=25 March 2021|website=elcinema|publisher=DAMLAG}} *{{Cite web|last=DAMLAG editorial staff|date=2019|title=Ward El-Khal|url=https://elcinema.com/en/person/1073097/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203192646/https://elcinema.com/en/person/1073097/|archive-date=3 December 2019|website=elcinema|publisher=DAMLAG|access-date=25 March 2021}} *{{Cite web|last=DAMLAG editorial staff|date=2017|title=نقطة حب (2010)|url=https://elcinema.com/en/work/1434986/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113053045/https://elcinema.com/en/work/1434986/|archive-date=13 January 2017|website=elcinema|publisher=DAMLAG|access-date=25 March 2021}} *{{Cite journal|last=Fairuz editorial staff|date=2016|title=تحلق في فضاء الكتابة والرسم والدراما - مها بيرقدار الخال: المبدع يلوّن حياته.. وأنا لوّنتها|trans-title=Flying in the space of writing, drawing and drama - Maha Bayraktar Al-Khal: The creative colors his life ... and I painted it|url=http://www.fairuzmagazine.com/article.php?categoryID=34&articleID=903&issuedate=1|journal=Fairuz|language=ar|issue=416}} *{{Cite web|last=Fakih|first=Ismael|date=3 June 2017|title=الشاعرة والرسامة مها الخال...عاشت طفولتها السعيدة وتلقت الأمر: "احضري أو غيبي الى الأبد"|trans-title=Poet and painter Maha Al-Khal ... lived her happy childhood and received the command: "Be present or be forever absent"|url=https://www.lahamag.com/Details/92610-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA-%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D9%88-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529222608/https://www.lahamag.com/article/92610|archive-date=29 May 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Laha Magazine|language=ar}} * {{Cite web|last=El-Khoury|first=Dominique|date=15 April 2017|title=مهى بيرقدار الخال للفن- يوسف وورد أخذا مني جمال الخَلق والخُلُق|trans-title=Maha Bayrakdar, Youssef and Ward take after me the beauty character and creativity|url=https://www.elfann.com/news/show/1178728/مهى-بيرقدار-الخال-للفن--يوسف-وورد-أخذا-مني-جمال-ال|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529192620/https://www.elfann.com/news/show/1178728/مهى-بيرقدار-الخال-للفن--يوسف-وورد-أخذا-مني-جمال-ال|archive-date=29 May 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Elfann News|language=ar}} *{{Cite book|last=Al-Jabboury|first=Kamel Salman Jasen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Awh7DwAAQBAJ&q=%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%AC%D9%85+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AF%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A1+%D9%85%D9%86+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%B1+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%84%D9%8A+%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%89+%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9|title=معجم الأدباء من العصر الجاهلي حتى سنة 2002|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Dar Al Kotob Al Ilmiyah دار الكتب العلمية|location=Beirut|page=276|language=ar|trans-title=A dictionary of writers from the pre-Islamic era until the year 2002}} *{{Cite web|last=Karohat|date=2010|title=Maha Bayrakdar Khal|url=https://karohat.com/en/Person/e64897e8-e7d0-46d0-8675-73a823374975/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325114937/https://karohat.com/en/Person/e64897e8-e7d0-46d0-8675-73a823374975/ |archive-date=25 March 2021 |access-date=25 March 2021 |website=karohat.com|language=ar, en}} * {{Cite book|last=Khal|first=Helen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LsafAAAAMAAJ&q=maha+bayrakdar|title=The Woman Artist in Lebanon|date=1988|publisher=The Institute|language=en}} *{{Cite web|last=LBCI editorial staff|date=2019|title=Ward al-Khal|url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/Author/265/ward-al-khal/en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325113311/https://www.lbcgroup.tv/Author/265/ward-al-khal/en|archive-date=25 March 2021|website=LBCI news|publisher=Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International|access-date=25 March 2021}} *{{Cite journal|last=Mansour|first=Thérèse|date=2011|title=مها بيرقدار الخال: أوجعني الوطن والإنسان والحب والفقدان|trans-title=Maha Bayrakdar Al-Khal: The homeland, the human being, love and loss hurt me|url=https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/ar/content/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A8-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86|url-status=live|journal=مجلة الجيش|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529192618/https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/ar/content/مها-بيرقدار-الخال-أوجعني-الوطن-والإنسان-والحب-والفقدان|archive-date=29 May 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|language=ar|publisher=قيادة الجيش اللبناني - مديرية التوجيه|issue=311}} *{{Cite web|last=Myheritage|date=2019|title=Maha Bayrakdar|url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-2630045/maha-bayrakdar-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325115839/https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-2630045/maha-bayrakdar-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=My Heritage}} *{{Cite web|last=L'Orient le Jour editorial staff|date=12 June 2004|title=Hommage Andrée Lahoud décore Maha Bayrakdar el-Khal|url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/471495/HommageAndree_Lahoud_decore_Maha_Bayrakdar_el-Khal.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325114039/https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/471495/HommageAndree_Lahoud_decore_Maha_Bayrakdar_el-Khal.html|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=L'Orient-Le Jour}} *{{Cite web|last=One Fine Art editorial staff|date=2008|title=One Fine Art - artists - painters / Maha Bayrakdar El Khal|url=https://www.onefineart.com/artists/painters/Maha-Bayrakdar-El-Khal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325105220/https://www.onefineart.com/artists/painters/Maha-Bayrakdar-El-Khal|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=onefineart}} *{{Cite web|last=Ra'y al-Yawm editorial staff|date=7 December 2014|title=ورد الخال تأتي من "خارج الزمن"|trans-title=Ward el-Khal comes from "outside of time."|url=https://www.raialyoum.com/index.php/%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ae%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%aa%d8%a3%d8%aa%d9%8a-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%ae%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%ac-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b2%d9%85%d9%86/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325134648/https://www.raialyoum.com/index.php/ورد-الخال-تأتي-من-خارج-الزمن/|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=رأي اليوم|language=ar}} *{{Cite web|last=SnackSoury staff|date=4 March 2020|title=ملكة جمال دمشق التي اختارت عرش الشعر|trans-title=The beauty queen who chose the throne of poetry|url=https://snacksyrian.com/%d9%85%d9%84%d9%83%d8%a9-%d8%ac%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%af%d9%85%d8%b4%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d8%ae%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%aa-%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%b4-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d8%b9%d8%b1/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529192623/https://snacksyrian.com/ملكة-جمال-دمشق-التي-اختارت-عرش-الشعر/|archive-date=29 May 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|website=سناك سوري|language=ar}} *{{Cite web|last=Zalzal|date=12 June 1998|title=Les expos de la semaine|url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/471495/HommageAndree_Lahoud_decore_Maha_Bayrakdar_el-Khal.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325120631/https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/277702/Les_expos_de_la_semaine.html|archive-date=25 March 2021|access-date=25 March 2021|website=L'Orient-Le Jour|first=Zeina}}
== External links == * Highlighted painting of [http://www.artmodernemv.gov.lb/english/home Maha Bayrakdar paintings on the Lebanese National Virtual Museum of Modern Art website]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bayrakdar, Maha}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:2025 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century Lebanese poets]] [[Category:20th-century Syrian poets]] [[Category:Lebanese painters]] [[Category:Syrian painters]] [[Category:Lebanese women writers]] [[Category:21st-century Lebanese poets]] [[Category:21st-century women writers]] [[Category:Writers from Damascus]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Lebanon)]] [[Category:Lebanese women poets]] [[Category:21st-century Syrian poets]] [[Category:Damascus University alumni]] [[Category:Syrian former Muslims]] [[Category:Lebanese former Muslims]] [[Category:LMU Munich alumni]] [[Category:20th-century women poets]] [[Category:21st-century women poets]]