Listen to the article
In a captivating blend of cultural heritage and artistic innovation, the Brazilian Embassy in Lebanon has announced the exhibition titled “Tripoli Fair: The Way I See It” Art Prize-Selected Works, set to open from April 12 to 27, 2024. Located in the picturesque Marsah, Mina, in Tripoli, the exhibition is open from Monday to Friday from 12 PM to 8 PM and on Saturday from 12 PM to 6 PM.
The Rachid Karami International Fair in Tripoli, a masterpiece by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, proudly stands between the historic center of the city and the Al Mina port. Yet behind its iconic silhouette lies a tumultuous history, reflecting Lebanon’s turmoil. Designed in the 1960s as a showcase of Lebanese modernity, the fair has endured the ravages of civil war. Now severely damaged, it was listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list in 2023. This serves as an alarm for this unique testament to the cultural exchanges between Brazil and Lebanon, whose future remains uncertain.
In this context, the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut launched the artistic competition “Tripoli Fair: The Way I See It” in 2023, aiming to invite Lebanese youth to offer a fresh perspective on this architectural gem. Over 180 creations were submitted by artists aged 18 to 35 who were Lebanese or residing in Lebanon. An exceptional jury of artists, experts, and representatives from major institutions in art, architecture, and photography was tasked with selecting the winners. Among them were Elsa Ghossoub, Farès Dahdah, Firas El Hallak, Joyce Jouma, Karina El Helou, and Wassim Naghi, who evaluated the works based on creativity, technical quality, and theme relevance.
Ultimately, 20 creations were selected, and three artists were awarded: Ieva Saudargaite Douaihi, Mariam Maaliki, and Mohamad Alamin Younis, each receiving a prize of $1,000. The other selected artists are Anass Joudaydeh, Bachira El Aref, Carl Bilen, Diego Castro Alvarez, Lara Abi Saber, Leila Charafeddine, Malek Halwany, Mohamad Beirouty, Mohamad Tartoussi, Najib Sakr, Nizar Maaliki, Nour Maaliki, Pietro Bassil, Reem Rafei, Sara Rafihi, Stephanie Tager, and Tharaa Captan. Displayed at Marsah — Mina until April 27, these works attest to the vitality of the Lebanese art scene. Paintings, photographs, sculptures — the techniques vary, but all explore the past, present, and future of the Tripoli Fair. Between nostalgia for a bygone era and hope for renewal, the artists cast a thoughtful and committed view on this endangered heritage.
The fair, with its immense boomerang-shaped hall stretching 750 meters, is not just an architectural feat. It symbolizes a modernist utopia, a Lebanon oriented towards progress and open to the world. An ideal challenged by conflicts but still capable of inspiring the youth. By celebrating the fair through art, the Brazilian Embassy hopes to raise public awareness about the importance of its preservation. This initiative continues other efforts, like guided tours of the Brazilian ambassador’s official residence, also designed by Brazilian modernist architect Olavo Redig de Campos. Introduced in 2023 for students and professionals in architecture, arts, and design, these tours will be continued this year, offered in Arabic and English, and opened for free to the general public.
These actions resonate with Tripoli’s designation as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 2024, an ideal opportunity to spotlight this exceptional heritage and breathe new life into it. Beyond its architectural value, the Tripoli Fair is a place of memory and inspiration, a space where the memories of a glorious past and the aspirations of a youth eager for change converge. By reappropriating this symbol through their works, the artists invite us to imagine a new chapter in its story.
As the fair celebrates its 60th anniversary, the “Tripoli Fair: The Way I See It” Art Prize – Selected Works exhibition underscores the urgency of acting to save this endangered gem. A mission that transcends borders and generations, calling for international mobilization. The Tripoli Fair is not just a Lebanese affair; it is a global heritage, a unique testament to the cultural exchanges between the East and the West.
