We Design Beirut Revives Cultural Heritage with Transformative Art Exhibitions This October

Beirut, Lebanon—This October, the cultural landscape of Beirut will witness a significant revival as the historic Abroyan Factory, a 1930s textile mill, is brought back to life. Once neglected, the factory, which previously hosted students in its echoing halls, will again buzz with activity as artisans and designers gather to work and create. Two major exhibitions will set the stage: Threads of Life and Métiers d’Art.

Celebrating Textile Mastery

The Threads of Life exhibition will showcase the talents of Lebanon’s most esteemed textile artisans. Among them is Sarah’s Bag, renowned for its intricate crochet designs, and Salim Azzam, who collaborates with women embroiderers from his Druze village. The exhibition also features Bokja, known for merging memory and textile in their installations. Collectively, these talented artisans will produce monumental textile works that span meters, emphasizing the skill, emotion, and narrative embedded in handmade art.

Honoring Heritage Craftsmanship

Adjacent to this, the Métiers d’Art exhibition will pay tribute to Lebanon’s rich craft traditions, which include wood carving, rattan work, and glassblowing. Leading designers such as Nada Debs and MARIAGROUP will collaborate with artisans to create live pieces throughout the exhibition, transforming traditional craftsmanship into a dynamic performance art. Additionally, photographers Patrick Baz and Anthony Saroufim will unveil Skin of a City, a collection of nude photography that addresses themes of intimacy and desire against the backdrop of a nation deeply affected by violence. Their work confronts societal taboos while encouraging reflection on Lebanon’s complex identity.

Meanwhile, the Fabrica Design Platform will offer free clay workshops for attendees. This initiative aims to enhance community engagement and add depth to the ongoing cultural renaissance at Abroyan.

A Look into the Past at Burj El Murr

The Burj El Murr, a building with a complicated history, will also serve as a key venue. Originally intended to be Beirut’s tallest skyscraper in 1972, its construction was halted due to civil unrest, transforming it into a war relic and an emblem of tragedy. For the first time, the building’s basement will be accessible to the public, showcasing the youth-led Design “In” Conflict exhibition.

This exhibition will be curated by a new generation of architects and designers, including Teymour Khoury, Yasmina Mahmoud, Tarek Mahmoud, and Youssef Bassil. It invites students from nine Lebanese universities to explore the intersection of design and architecture amid ongoing conflict. The Burj itself will present a narrative reflecting Beirut’s urban and social fabric, as well as the complexities of Lebanon’s sociopolitical context.

Reviving Historical Landmarks

At the Roman Baths, an ancient site closed for over a decade, the exhibition Of Water and Stone will also take place. Curated by art history professor Nour Osseiran and produced by Stones by Rania Malli, it will focus on purification and restoration through marble, inviting over 20 designers to interpret the act of cleansing. This project serves as a poignant reminder of Beirut’s continuing recovery and resilience.

Tributes at Villa Audi

In another transformative installation, the Villa Audi will host Totems of the Present and the Absent, honoring designer Gregory Gatserelia and his iconic SMO Gallery, a venue that was lost to war but left a lasting impact. Last year, the villa featured a furniture expo, but this year’s exhibition invites visitors to confront loss and reverence through the lens of absence. Gatserelia aims to shift focus upward, inviting viewers to reflect on what has been lost while finding beauty in remaining memories. The exhibition will consist of new personal, political, and poetic symbols that embody Beirut’s essence—a city marked by cycles of disappearance and reappearance.

A New Architectural Chapter at Immeuble de l’Union

Lastly, the Immeuble de l’Union, a modernist building representing the former Green Line of Beirut, is undergoing renovations spearheaded by architect Karim Nader. This project symbolizes a pivotal moment in the architectural rejuvenation of the city. Visitors will be guided through a seven-story sensory light experience, showcasing emerging designers under 30, including Karel Kargodorian, Marc-Antoine Frahi, and Miriam Abi Tarabay, thus bridging the generation gap between novice or established creators.

This initiative underscores a broader commitment to cultural revival and community engagement. The relaunch of these spaces and the scheduled exhibitions are poised to create a profound dialogue around Lebanon’s cultural legacy, resilience, and ongoing transformation.

As reported by www.savoirflair.com.