How the Arts in Lebanon Reflect Cultural Endurance
The Arts in Lebanon are an emblem of resilience, reflecting centuries of adaptation and survival through turbulent histories and changing urban landscapes. From ancient crafts to contemporary expressions, Lebanon’s art scene captures the essence of cultural endurance.
Today, local artists face new challenges—war, economic instability, migration, environmental shifts, and digital transformation—while continuing to tell stories of strength and identity. The Urban Canvas Exhibition at Kulturnest, open until December 31, 2024, offers a powerful narrative of this resilience, showcasing 22 artists who address evolving identities amid urban changes. Below is an exploration of each artist’s unique contributions to this theme through samples of their displayed artworks.
Dana Hassan – Wall Calls for Peace captures Beirut’s resilience, using torn posters on wood to reflect the fractured yet hopeful urban identity. Hassan's piece, born amid COVID-19, reimagines Beirut's walls as symbols of collective memory, calling for unity in a city divided by crisis.
Darine Semaan – Mask Connection portrays people adapting to new technologies in an altered urban landscape, reflecting how resilience is about embracing change and redefining interactions within modern cityscapes.
Dina Al-Naimy – Life is Really Simple vibrant canvas depicts figures entangled in city life, conveying the idea that resilience emerges from simplicity and interconnectedness amid urban complexity.
Gaia Maria Noujaim – Windows invites viewers to reflect on systems of control within urban life. Noujaim's repetitive patterns symbolize the cyclical struggles and potential for transcendence, challenging viewers to reimagine the urban space through critical thought.
George Khoury (Phat2) – The Great Akira Empire draws from the dystopian world of “Akira,” exploring themes of resistance, consumerism, and the impact of crises on urban resilience.
Ghada El Meouchy Choueiry – A Symphony of Colours brings the vibrancy of nature into urban spaces, underscoring the therapeutic impact of art. Choueiry’s floral work infuses life into cityscapes, offering beauty and mental respite as symbols of endurance.
Hasan Al Sahily – Tower Lights geometric abstraction of the Empire State Building critiques light pollution and urban alienation. Al Sahily's work is a metaphor for resilience in a world where modernity often distorts the natural balance.
Jameel Shammout (JamPam) – Strangers in the Streets focuses on marginalized individuals within the city, depicting their hidden stories and resilience. Shammout’s work amplifies the voices of the unseen, encouraging empathy and understanding.
Jihad Kiame – Blastopolis captures the post-explosion disarray of Beirut, portraying broken structures as symbols of resilience. Kiame's work is a call to remember and rebuild while reflecting on the scars left by conflict.
Karla Jabbour – Celestial Reverie blends fantasy and reality, uses luminous landscapes to symbolize hope. The cosmic elements reflect a journey towards healing and a vision of resilience beyond earthly struggles.
Marina Kharma – Lost in the Maze of Emotions represents the complexity of urban identity, using bold strokes to capture the fluidity and layered emotions that define resilience in modern cityscapes.
Maya Nassereldine – Fairouz is a tribute to Beirut following the 2020 port explosion to embody resilience. Nassereldine's work combines calligraphy, arabesques, and portraiture to honor the city’s cultural icons and their power to inspire endurance.
Maya Rafie – In The Vanity from her photograph series Windows of Resilience, Rafie portrays her grandmother’s home as a sanctuary against the city’s turmoil. The reflections in mirrors and windows illustrate continuity and resilience across generations.
Naja Kerellos – Resistance captures the struggle of communities during times of urban crisis. Kerellos' piece stitches together diverse textures, symbolizing the resilience and strength of Beirut’s social fabric.
Olga Safa – Beirut Rise and Heal personifies Beirut as a woman poised with strength, capturing the city’s enduring spirit following tragedy. The painting is a testament to resilience, blending vibrant colors with solemn themes.
Pamela Chrabieh – Jawwala V is part of her "Jawwala/Nomad" series, exploring the fluidity and reconstruction of identity amid migration and cultural change. The cracked surface of the depicted face symbolizes fractured and layered identities, mirroring the lives of those displaced or in transition.
Peter Abdel Karim – Beirut’s Battle of Dots photography contrasts the bustling energy of Beirut’s streets with serene details, using dots to represent resilience and continuity amid urban chaos.
Rabih Yehya – From Berytus to Beirut piece, rendered in Arabic calligraphy, explores Beirut’s Eastern and Western identities. Yehya's work embodies resilience through the visual fusion of modern and traditional elements, symbolizing the city’s continuous adaptation.
Rima Ghanem – Protect Me from What I Want ink illustration reflects on the duality of urban life—hope and fear interwoven. Ghanem's work speaks to the emotional resilience required to navigate Beirut’s intense environment.
Rim Ibrahim – Out Created from recycled materials symbolizes renewal within urban life, urging viewers to find resilience and beauty in discarded elements. Ibrahim's work is a metaphor for transformation, mirroring the resourcefulness of Beirut itself.
Rola Dleykan – Life uses Kufic calligraphy to reflect on the resilience embedded in life’s cycles. The cosmic theme of Dleykan's piece invites viewers to find continuity and meaning amidst change.
Youmna Jazzar Medlej – It Is All There photography captures the shattered remnants of Beirut after the port explosion, using light and reflection to signify resilience amid destruction. The artist's work is a poignant reminder of the city’s spirit to endure and rebuild.
