Guardians in Tutu: Cranes of Beirut Transformed
Guardians in Tutu: Cranes of Beirut Transformed
By Sarah Kouzi
In Artworks
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Item details:
▸ Features: Handmade Unique Piece▸ Materials: Canvas
▸ Art technique: Mixed Media
▸ Dimensions (cm): 63.0 x 95.0 x 2.5
▸ Net Weight (kg): 2.0
The cranes at the Beirut port have long stood as towering symbols of Lebanon’s maritime activity, tirelessly lifting goods and connecting the country to the world. On August 4, 2020, they bore silent witness to the devastating port explosion. Many were damaged, yet some remained standing—guardians of both tragedy and resilience.
This painting reimagines these cranes as towering giraffes adorned with tutus. Like the cranes, giraffes stand tall—symbols of endurance and grace. Through magical realism, industrial giants transform into elegant creatures, their rigid forms softened into the gentle strides of giraffes. Giraffes, known for their sharp vision, mirror the cranes’ watchful presence over the port. Their transformed bodies embody both protection and displacement, reflecting the Lebanese experience.
Like sentinels, they stand vigilant, safeguarding their land, yet their long necks stretch toward the horizon, searching for safety, opportunity, or the proverbial greener grass. This fusion of absurdity and poignancy captures Beirut’s ongoing recovery. The juxtaposition of fragility and strength, past and future, destruction and resilience, challenges how we perceive the body in times of crisis. The cranes, once industrial lifelines, take on new forms—bodies of endurance and transformation. The giraffes in tutus inject a touch of levity, suggesting that even in serious times, imagination and humor offer new ways of seeing, understanding, and reclaiming the body’s presence in a fractured landscape.
Production year: 2025.
Charcoal and Crayon on Canvas.
About Sarah Kouzi
Sarah Kouzi is a self-taught artist based in Lebanon. Born and raised in Beirut to a Scottish mother and Lebanese father, she grew up witnessing the realities of Lebanon’s civil war. Sarah holds a Master’s degree from the American University of Beirut in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health. While her professional work currently focuses on Programs Management, art has remained a constant force in her life.
Inspired by both international and local influences, Sarah has trained with renowned Lebanese artists such as Bassam Kahwaji, Afaf Zurayk, Walid Sadek, and Nadine Kanawati. Through this, she has explored diverse techniques while shaping her artistic voice., Sarah believes in the transformative power of art. Her practice delves into themes of resilience, identity, and the socio-political landscape of Lebanon, weaving personal and collective narratives. She is particularly drawn to magical realism, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, offering fresh perspectives on lived experiences.
This competition marks her debut in the art world, an opportunity to share her work with a broader audience. She hopes to continue exploring the intersection of art and social issues, using creativity as a means of reflection and dialogue.