Dr. Amine Iskandar unveils art exhibition about Lebanese identity
BEIRUT — Architect, writer, and painter Amine Iskandar unveiled his inaugural art exhibition at the Charles Corm Foundation in the heart of Beirut. Through his work, Iskandar embarks on a journey to revive Lebanon’s identity, challenging historical narratives that have obscured its true essence.
Running until the upcoming Saturday, the exhibit serves as a testament to Iskandar’s commitment to a Lebanese identity free from distortions and historical misrepresentations.
Central to Iskandar’s narrative is the historical significance of the Syriac language. The exhibition unfolds in three distinct stages, each meticulously crafted to capture pivotal moments in Lebanon’s complex history.
The first stage, set in the tumultuous 1970s during the Lebanese Civil War, features Iskandar’s depictions of monasteries nestled in the Qadisha Valley — a region rendered inaccessible due to the conflict.
Transitioning to the 90s, Iskandar draws poignant comparisons between this era and the harrowing years of World War I, a period marked by Christian communities grappling with hunger as part of a larger extermination plan.
In the third and final stage, post-1990s, Iskandar’s canvases delve into the removal of backgrounds, revealing Syriac hymns inscribed vertically — an homage to the ancient churches that once echoed with these sacred verses.
Iskandar, speaking about his journey of artistic exploration, emphasized the pivotal role of engineering in uncovering the rich Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) civilization and its integral identity. He cautioned against the abandonment of this cultural heritage, underscoring the risk of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people losing their existence if it continues to be neglected.