Collective Action
Protesters get creative in Martyrs' Square
As Lebanon’s nationwide protests reach their 109th day, hundreds of people took to the streets of Downtown Beirut to showcase works of revolutionary art. Artists erected a long line of stands on Martyrs’ Square, where they created a variety of new paintings, sculptures and installations. Music played loudly, while balloons flew in the air and crowds gathered to view the creativity on display.
The artists and onlookers came together to send a message that the protests, which began on Oct. 17, 2019, are far from over. Some carved wood into human forms, while others painted portraits and abstract pictures to communicate the concerns of the protest movement.
Roula Kazan, an art teacher, showed a painting of children running down a path with Lebanese flags, a cedar tree and white birds in the sky. She described it as an appeal to all of Lebanon’s youth to be hopeful and active in the creation of a better future.
“I came from outside Beirut to showcase my art, because with my painting, I am trying to convey a positive message of hope,” Kazan said. “The uprisings have not finished and will not end until [those in power] decide to listen to us.”
Many of the artists expressed similar sentiments.
“I want to bring Lebanese people together and show the elites that we are one hand,” artist Rima Awwan said. “These paintings all represent peace in Lebanon – one with no sects and no division, and until that demand is met, we will use all means to convey it.”
Others said that art is a language spoken by many people, and so can be used to carry out important conversations in society.
“Art and paintings are a message and not just something you do for fun,” said interior designer, Jad Saintbai. “People will always have language barriers and barriers in their beliefs, but that’s not the case with what we’re doing today.”
Saintbai’s paintings are easy to relate to and depict a range of everyday people, from little girls selling water on the street to members of the Army patrolling demonstrations.
“Revolutions are based on art because everyone can understand it,” he said.