A heavily bottlenecked Lebanon unknowingly resting upon 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate popped the cap on August 4, blowing up to pieces before the whole world’s eyes. With the massive cloud of smoke rose a sweeping wave of shock, anger, sadness and disbelief too intense to rightfully express in words. As we continue to pick up the pieces, we look back at impactful art that emerged from the shattered heart of the tragedy.
Ivan Debs: Commemorating Little Voices with Big Impact [@ivan.debs]
Broken childhood became a recurrent theme in the artist’s post-blast rhetoric, as he commemorated the passing of 3-year-old Alexandra and 15-year-old Elias and the scars of 4-year-old Yara in a series of triumphant portraits, dedicated to the victims, their loved ones and the country’s next generation.
Mahmud Awad: When The Cup Overflows [@mahmud_a]
Beirut’s instant transition from an oasis of life into a wreckage of dreams portrayed inside a broken traditional coffee cup holds a handful hints of heart-wrenching nostalgia. The city was stolen from its people but only the people can breathe life into its corners again.
Rayane Hayek: Lebanese Heartbreak Shared by The World [@alleviate.art]
When young artist Rayane Hayek posted these broken hearts incorporating the Lebanese map to Instagram, little did she know they would come to be shared by people across the world as an expression of grief and solidarity with Beirut. Through her viral artwork, she was able to raise over $12,000 for organizations such as the Lebanese Red Cross.
Yasmine Darwich: Tribute to The Real Heroes [@yasminedarwich]
“The worst always brings out the real heroes,” this is how designer Yasmine Darwich chose to title her illustration, representing three women raising their brooms as they help clean out the rubble across the streets of Beirut in the aftermath of the explosion as a weapon of hope.
Nour Flayhan: New Morning Routine [@nouriflayhan]
Lebanese morning coffee rituals will never be the same after the capital was almost wiped away from the map, causing irreparable heartache. This artwork was created to pave the way for more donations to charities and NGOs at the frontlines of rebuilding and relief activities in Beirut.
Adra Kandil: Calling Out for Our Beirut [@dear.nostalgia]
A weeping eye peeking through Beirut’s cloud of smoke as everyone watches how this collage artist chose to portray the aftermath. “Beirut is broken, so is my heart. How much more can we take?” she wrote in the caption, urging people to contribute and lend a hand to ongoing relief efforts.
Nour Itani: Behold The New Fears [@nourritani]
After an indescribable national near-death experience for all those who survived, a whole new set of fears kicked in. Everything from closed windows to the inevitability of facing reality became an emotional burden, reflected perfectly by the artist in a series of situational illustrations.
