Beirut on the Horizon — Exhibition Visit

Higher Metn Artisan's board president Mrs. Inas Nuwayhed, board member Ms. Maysaa Al-Banna, and media committee member Prof. Talal Gharz El-Din attended the solo exhibition of artist Nabil Saad in Burj. "Beirut on the Horizon" is one of a series of exhibitions by artist Nabil Saad — the latest held at the Burj Cultural and Social Club. Every artwork in the exhibition captivates the viewer with its story drawn from Beirut's history. Prof. Nabil served as the finest historical guide to Beirut's landmarks — some of which have vanished, where his role as an artist was to immortalize them, and others that still exist, where he completes what erosion and destruction have worn away. During our visit, he explained the role of Beirut's ancient guardian tower — and its fall, immortalized in the painting "The Fall of the Old Guardian," destroyed by the coalition army in 1840. He also described the Beirut Port Fortress, entirely demolished by multiple forces over the centuries, considered by historians to be among the oldest ports in the world. Visitors will notice that the works depict Beirut's social life, old photographs, and the layered unfolding of its civilization — each artwork with its own narrative and documented history. The exhibition comprises three series: the first, painted in monochrome in the style of Orientalists, depicting historic Beirut close to the era of its ancient walls; the second, "Social Life," covering the 1950s through 1970s before the civil war, executed in watercolors; and the third, "Large General Landscapes" in acrylic. "The Fall of the Old Guardian" evokes grief and shock after immersing oneself in the history of Beirut's walls. "The French Avenue" depicts the French-ornamented cement wall — now gone, mourned for what once existed and has since disappeared. The most affecting for the artist was the Beirut Port explosion of August 4. Nabil Saad responded to questions about the works: "My love for Lebanon drives me to document and chronicle Beirut's history. I am glad my idea and works have inspired others to paint Beirut's landmarks. The son of Burj paints Beirut because of Beirut's magic and allure — which has drawn not only people of Burj but French, Austrians, English, and many others who came to paint it and were captivated by its history. No tree exists without roots, and these roots are our history — the nourishment from which we build our future."