A big commercial complex…

I am back in Berlin now and have begun to think about the intensive 20 days I spent in Beirut.

First, the exhibition went very well, there were a lot of visitors and we had a good press resonence, both from cultural journalists and critics as well as from a envorinment activist who wrote about my outdoor installations (these were presented as photos and documentation).

I was lucky that the situation was relatively calm during my stay. I found the situation quite tense in comparison with the last two years, but seen in the light of the events of the last two months, it was calm. Of course, the situation in Syria has a big influence on daily life in Lebanon, you could clearly feel the miserable situation of the many Syrians who have re-located to Lebanon. There are many children who are begging or offering services on the streets (polishing shoes or selling flowers), etc. Meanwhile, I only stayed in Beirut, so I cannot say much about the situation in the countryside or in other cities.

In the place where the Salesian school used to be, there is now a big high-rise commercial complex, including furnished appartments and some cafes. The facade does not fit in with the surroundings and urban texture. You find two high buildings that are much higher than the surrounding buildings (ca. 24 storeys), contrasting with the Druze community house opposite and the Bristol Hotel on the side. This time, I didn’t take any photos of this house, but you’ll find attached images from my last trip in January (before the building was completed).

All my best wishes,
Salah