"Natrin…": The 44 Silhouettes of Pierre Abboud Demand Justice
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-08-04 14:47 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Four years after the tragedy of the Beirut port explosion, artist Pierre Abboud calls out to the capital with Natrin..., a striking installation of 44 life-sized colored metal silhouettes, embodying the relentless cry of the victims’ families who, despite the passage of time, have never stopped demanding truth and justice. On August ...
Culture in Lebanon: An Act of Resistance and Faith
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-08-02 18:33 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
In these troubled times, as Lebanon is once again plunged into uncertainty, culture remains an unwavering pillar and a bulwark against the darkness threatening to engulf the Land of the Cedars. Despite the challenges the nation faces, the Lebanese display extraordinary resilience, celebrating life with unmatched fervor. In this article, we review ...
Colette Naufal, the Lady of Lebanese Cinema, Bids Farewell
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-08-01 09:46 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Colette Naufal, founder of the Beirut International Film Festival, shaped the Lebanese cinematic landscape for more than two decades. Her passing at 78 leaves a significant void, but her legacy is imperishable. The Birth of a Passion Although few details are known about Colette Naufal’s youth, it is evident that she developed a deep ...
Paris 2024: The Ceremony of Excess and Extravagance
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-28 18:42 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The much-anticipated opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games lived up to all its promises in terms of buzz and controversy. Baffling, breathtaking, provocative, this extraordinary inaugural event left no one indifferent. Here’s a look back at an XXL show that electrified social media and TV studios. On Friday night, the eyes of ...
The Dreamlike Universe of Sara Abou Mrad Invites Itself to the Janine Rubeiz Gallery
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-19 18:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Janine Rubeiz Gallery presents 'Stay or Leave,' an exhibition by Lebanese artist Sara Abou Mrad, which explores themes of uprooting and the metamorphosis of exile, from July 24 to August 23, 2024. The Janine Rubeiz Gallery, a prominent venue for contemporary art in Beirut, is hosting the new exhibition by Sara Abou Mrad, a multidisciplinary ...
Paris 2024 Medals: A Blend of History and Innovation
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-16 18:41 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Combining French heritage and sporting excellence, the medals for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games make history with their unique design. Incorporating a piece of the Eiffel Tower, they embody the spirit of innovation and the universal values of Olympism. When athletes stand on the podiums of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic ...
‘Roofs of the City’ by Maral Der Boghossian Celebrates Beirut
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-14 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
From July 18 to 31, 2024, the exhibition Roofs of the City by Maral Der Boghossian invites us on a captivating pictorial journey over the rooftops of Beirut. A vibrant ode to the city, filled with nostalgia and an explosion of colors. This summer, the Beirut art scene will be marked by a significant event: Maral Der Boghossian’s solo ...
Kenza Layli Crowned Miss AI: Beauty 2.0 Finally Unveiled
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-12 10:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The world of beauty has reached a new milestone with the crowning of Kenza Layli, a Moroccan virtual influencer, at the very first Miss AI contest organized by the World AI Creator Awards (WAICA). This unprecedented event, initiated by Fanvue, aims to celebrate the feats of artificial intelligence and demonstrate how it is revolutionizing our ...
‘The Grand Spectacle’ Will Dazzle Byblos in a Memorable Evening
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-11 17:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The Grand Spectacle Byblos Edition, created by Toni Makhoul, will illuminate the stage of the Byblos International Festival on July 18, 2024. This special event celebrates the grandeur of Byblos and Lebanon's cultural richness through an inspiring artistic performance. Under the twinkling stars of Byblos, the Grand Spectacle Byblos Edition will ...
Mouna Bassili Sehnaoui: The Woman Who Defined Lebanon’s Visual Identity
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-06 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
In the midst of a storm, Lebanon launches a bold campaign to promote tourism. “Mechouar,” initiated by the Ministry of Tourism, is intended as a message of hope and resilience in a highly challenging context. This term, which means “promenade” in Arabic, evokes the idea of a pleasant stroll, a moment of respite. However, given the ...
The USJ Choir and Yasmina Sabbah Reinvent Rock
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-05 14:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
On July 13 and 14, 2024, the Casino du Liban will resonate with an exceptional musical fusion. The Symphonic Rock concert by the Saint Joseph University (USJ) Choir promises to brilliantly combine rock classics with symphonic music. At the helm, the passionate and visionary conductor Yasmina Sabbah reveals the behind-the-scenes of this highly ...
Saloua Raouda Choucair: A Museum Celebrates the Lebanese Avant-Garde
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-07-02 18:17 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon celebrated the opening of the Saloua Raouda Choucair Museum, paying tribute to the pioneer of Arab abstract art. Nestled in a pine forest in Ras el-Metn, this artistic sanctuary offers an exceptional immersion into the universe of this visionary artist. An hour’s drive from the bustling city of Beirut, the Saloua Raouda Choucair Museum ...
Vogue’s Grand Fashion Spectacle Takes Over Place Vendôme
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-24 13:26 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Vogue World, a major fashion event, dazzled Paris on Sunday at Place Vendôme, featuring a parade of top French designers and an unprecedented gathering of celebrities. The highly anticipated Vogue World, one of the year’s most significant fashion events, took center stage on Sunday at the iconic Place Vendôme in Paris. This spectacular show, ...
A Timeless Voice: Chris de Burgh’s Enchanting Concerts at Casino du Liban
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-23 19:19 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
On June 21 and 22, 2024, Irish singer Chris de Burgh delivered two exceptional performances at the Casino du Liban, transporting the audience in a whirlwind of emotions and nostalgia. Although time passes, Chris de Burgh seems unchanging: an undisputed master of the stage, he retains that incomparable voice that has been his signature for ...
Beirut Spring Festival: A Moving Tribute to Gisèle Khoury
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-21 18:07 - Reading : 8 minute(s)
The 16th Beirut Spring Festival concluded on May 20 with a touching evening honoring Gisèle Khoury, a journalist and activist whose life was marked by an intense and rich journey. Gisèle Khoury lived a life filled with achievements, both personally and professionally. Her career in journalism began at LBCI in 1986, followed by her well-known ...
Anouk Aimée: The Passing of a French Cinema Icon
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-19 13:54 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Anouk Aimée, an iconic actress and the true embodiment of French grace, passed away this Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the age of 92. Her daughter, Manuela Papatakis, announced the sad news on Instagram, specifying that she was by her side during her final moments. Born Françoise Dreyfus on April 27, 1932, in Paris, Anouk Aimée was ...
The Last Aria: Jodie Devos’ Untimely Passing
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-18 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Jodie Devos, the dazzling Belgian soprano, has sadly left us for other realms. She passed away suddenly on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Paris, struck by cancer at just 35 years old. In just a decade, this extraordinary artist had won the hearts of the public and the admiration of her peers with a talent as radiant as it was generous. Revealed in ...
Jabbour Douaihy, the Master of Lebanese Literature
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-17 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
The roundtable "Jabbour Douaihy: A Life, A Work" paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Lebanese writer who passed away in 2021 at the age of 72, on the occasion of the French release of his novel Il y avait du poison dans l'air. The event brought together literary figures and close friends of the writer. On Friday, June 14, the Safadi Center in ...
Closure of Lebanon's Vital Blood Donation Group 'Donner Sang Compter'
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-14 14:24 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
On World Blood Donor Day, a crucial question arises: After 14 years of tireless efforts to promote voluntary blood donation in Lebanon, Donner Sang Compter has closed its doors. This decision carries significant implications in a country already burdened by a fragile healthcare system. Yorgui Teyrouz, speaking on behalf of the Donner Sang ...
Françoise Hardy: The Voice That Defined Generations
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-12 17:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
She was the voice of our youth, of our loves, of our melancholies. Françoise Hardy, the one through whom French song took a new breath in the 60s, has left us at the age of 80, taking with her an entire piece of our collective history. Françoise Hardy was born on January 17, 1944, in occupied Paris, the daughter of an absent father and a ...
Miss AI: When Artificial Intelligence Joins the Beauty Contest
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-09 18:00 - Reading : 8 minute(s)
The Fanvue World AI Creator Awards unveil the 10 finalists of their first Miss AI contest: virtual models with surprising profiles, blending unique biographies with advantageous physiques. Let’s dive into the depths of AI to discover these extraordinary candidates and try to understand the significance of this unusual event. The Fanvue World AI ...
Benoît Debbané Unveils the Essence of Femininity
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-06-02 11:12 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
With “12 Women (and an Orange Cat),” Benoît Debbané invites us to revisit our perception of feminine beauty. Through his intimate and authentic portraits, the Lebanese painter pays tribute to the women who have marked his life, while exploring the fascinating parallels between femininity and the enigmatic presence of cats. The opening ...
'Brotherland' by Georges Melhem : A Cry for Peace
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-28 18:02 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Fifteen years after its first publication, the novel Brotherland by Georges Melhem is back in the spotlight, revamped and more relevant than ever. Through the poignant story of twins separated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the author issues a heartfelt call for empathy and reconciliation. Fate has a strange way of bringing people together. ...
Coldplay in Lebanon? Dream or Delusions of Grandeur?
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-27 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Ah, Lebanon, that small country wedged between the sea and mountains, where the wildest dreams sometimes seem to come to life. The latest whim? The imminent arrival of Coldplay, no less, for a concert that already promises to be legendary... at least in the collective imagination! For those who have been living under a rock for the past 20 years, ...
Antonio Scurati, the Free Writer of the Present Century
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-24 19:55 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Antonio Scurati, the renowned Italian writer and author of the “M” trilogy on Benito Mussolini, is much more than a mere historical novelist. A staunch defender of freedom of expression, he embodies the figure of the committed writer. This is Beirut had the privilege of meeting this exceptional man for an interview during a debate in ...
‘Je ne te dirai jamais adieu,’ a Novel Dedicated to Lebanon by Carlo Akatcherian
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-14 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
In his latest novel, Carlo Akatcherian casts a tender and lucid gaze upon today’s Lebanon, a country wounded yet resilient. This fresco celebrates the beauty of a nation and its people, carried by elegant writing. What remains of Lebanon, this small country of breathtaking beauty, a jewel of the Middle East, after decades of fratricidal ...
Eurovision 2024 or the Art of Distorting Music
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-13 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Eurovision, once envisioned as an anthem to music and European unity, has morphed into a political arena where countries showcase not only their musical talents but predominantly their geopolitical agendas. Despite its repeated efforts to remain apolitical, Eurovision has proven to be anything but. Beneath the glitter and synchronized ...
Alain Plisson, Pillar of Lebanese Theater, Passes Away at 94
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-10 15:27 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanese theater has lost one of its greatest names. Alain Plisson, actor, director and teacher, leaves behind an invaluable artistic and educational legacy. Alain Plisson, a towering figure in the Lebanese theater, passed away at the age of 94, after 48 hours in a coma. His loss leaves a vast void in the country’s cultural landscape, given his ...
Bernard Pivot, the Soul of French Culture, Dies at 89
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-06 17:14 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Bernard Pivot, an essential figure in the French cultural landscape, has left us, leaving behind an invaluable legacy. As a journalist, presenter, and lover of words, he made an indelible mark on the worlds of literature and television. His passing is a tremendous loss for everyone who, like me, had the chance to cross paths with ...
Meryl Streep, a Cinema Legend Honored at Cannes
Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-05-05 10:59 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
A true icon of the seventh art, the multi-talented actress Meryl Streep will be awarded an Honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. This recognition will crown an exceptional career spanning nearly half a century. Born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949, in New Jersey, Meryl Streep is universally ...