On August 4th 2020 a fire emerged from the port of Beirut followed by the world’s third largest explosion after the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It killed hundreds, injured thousands, left 300 000 Lebanese families homeless, and a city in ruins.
Before the blast, before the capital was covered in blood and glass, the country was undergoing an unprecedented economic crisis. In October 2019 when the government announced a planned tax on gasoline, tabaco and the messaging application WhatsApp, citizens saw it as the last straw and took to the streets to condemn the state’s rampant corruption, mass unemployment and the government’s inability to provide basic services such as clean water, electricity and adequate sanitation.
It is amidst hyperinflation, withdrawal restrictions and international financial sanctions that Lebanon is now faced with the harrowing aftermaths of the explosion. But how many times can a country rise from its ashes? The 1st of September 2020 will mark the commemoration of Lebanon’s centenary of the Proclamation of the State of Greater Lebanon, which occurred at the end of World War I. What lies ahead for Lebanon today?
Known for their unshakable optimism, resourcefulness and resilience, the Lebanese have endured countless hardships over the past 50 years and the recent blast that hit the port of Beirut on August 4th 2020 was yet another blow to the cumulative challenges the country was already facing.
But in the thick of suffering and pain, hope and faith prevail.
Before launching our new collection Damask ROWSE we would like to take the time to invoke the Mystical Rose, the Virgin Mary to heal the wounds of Beirut.
In this multiconfessional state, unity and solace can be found in the common devotion the Lebanese vow to the Virgin Mary. Adored and celebrated by Christians and Muslims alike, the Heavenly Mother provides a source of comfort, strength and harmony in times of trouble.
At the back of cars, niched upon building entrances, next to ATMS or elevated at the top of mountains, statues of Mary can be observed on every corner. Mentioned 72 times in the Bible, Lebanon is considered a Holy Land by Christians, the cities of Tyre and Sidon often referenced in the Bible, are places Jesus travelled to.
The region is not only a spiritual hub, it is also a destination for art-seekers. Next to Harissa, in the village of Daroun lies a hidden architectural gem - A.MUSE.UM artist and architect Nadim Karam’s unexpected studio/gallery which opened to the public in 2019 during the Beirut Art Fair.
That same year, our co-founder André Damas curated MMXX Pavilion, a show focused on the lasting relations between ruins and progress on a millenial land. The exhibition took place at the Beirut Digital District a hub for tech entrepreneurs in Lebanon.
