“We will never forget” In the memory of the tragedy that occurred on Beirut’s port on August 4.
This is not a picture of a theatrical tragedy
This is not picture I wanted to make
This photograph doesn’t lie but it’s not enough to portray reality.
Few month ago, I took the picture of the lovers when the smell of hope was occupying the streets of Beirut. Two people kissing bridging and hoping for a better future.
Sometime after, the same hope started fading out due to Covid 19, the economic crisis…
People were not given a choice but to wake up every day on a big weight on their shoulders.
Regardless they were still resilient hoping it could to pass.
And then,
Beirut’s port bombing on August 4 happened
Our beloved Beirut was entirely wearing black.
People were reunited sorrow.
Their eyes were shouting anger.
Their heart was pumping despair.
And their gut was jumping from fear.
Even seeing the sunset with orange warm colors is not the same anymore.
This photograph is an archival of a specific moment when people had seen death in front of their eyes, running into the unknown not knowing what kind of disaster had happened.
A big fire”y” smoke breaking the city into pieces and hearts into billions of fragments.
While our beloved politicians, responsible in all sort of ways of this massacre, are sitting in their villas, secured and safe.
This picture is not enough to portray the tragedy.
The tragedy could not be portrayed in an image.
The damage could not be limited to one frame.
The pain resulted from the loss of our loved ones could never be reproduced.
Beirut is tired to be portrayed in pain. From now on things are different. Our voice is louder than ever.
Beirut should never have a picture covered with smoke anymore.
Nobody should ever be holding the statue of the virgin Mary praying for their loved ones to be alive.
What is gone cannot be replaced, what is left to us are few wishes, that the victims’ seeds will grow flowers, and Beirut blossoms into a peaceful life again and the political leaders will be shattered in pieces, equally to the amount of glass we had on Beirut’s floor.
The protagonists featured are people who are close to my heart, they are not actors but survivors of the Beirut explosion.
Imad in the role of the Politician
Fawzyeh and her sons xand y mother with kids
Raymonda in the role of the Bride
Emile in the role of the old men with the virgin Mary
Dana in the role of the woman hiding from the rock fall
Ghinwa in the role of the veiled woman with a broken leg
Zeenyin the role of political leader
Tarek in the role of the guy with a wounded head
Diva in the role of the theatrical character
The resilient Lebanese team behind this artwork made this photograph happen, a reminder me of the essence of my city.
Production manager: Sandra Abou Jaoudeh
Sfx-Make up- Cynthia Naoum
Special Effects: Cynthia Naoum
Make up assistant-: Elie Boudjok
Making off: Fares Sokhen
