What does it mean to be Lebanese and be able to live as an outsider, far away from the chaos? Lebanon has been experiencing crisis after crisis. As a result of years of corruption, the Lebanese pound took a major dive and lost 80% of its value plunging the country into a deep economic crisis. In response, hundreds of thousands took to the streets demanding for an end to political injustices. In the midst of the protests, an explosion at the port of Beirut stripped many Lebanese families from their homes, as the injured flooded unprepared hospitals greatly increasing the magnitude of the crisis. Lebanese citizens became victims of political oppression, economic crisis and an uncontrolled COVID outbreak leading to extreme loss of lives, livelihood and pain.
Beirut Bayti uses raw and unfiltered photography, taken by the Lebanese citizens in their darkest moments, revealing the trauma and sorrow of heartbroken citizens, to change the attitude of the Lebanese government and raise awareness of the damages caused to the Lebanese community. I designed seemingly endless sequences of associatively related photographs. A make-up of intuitive combinations, that aim to encapsulate the series of tragic events mirroring the never ending distressed caused to the Lebanese citizens, because the subject itself is too intense, and beyond one’s grasp. This visual narrative enters a polarity to form an actual work affirming chaos of all the facts and gestures that have transpired all across Lebanon. The work becomes part of a stance in pursuit for justice.