Culture

Venice Carnival 2024 Celebrates Marco Polo
Venice Carnival 2024 Celebrates Marco Polo

The Carnival of Venice, one of the most emblematic and photographed festivities in the world, began its celebrations with a bang this Saturday. For the 2024 edition, Venice pays homage to one of its most famous sons, Marco Polo, by celebrating the 700th anniversary of his death with the theme "Towards the Orient. The Incredible Journey of Marco ...

Shining Star Michelle Pfeiffer: An Environmental Activist
Shining Star Michelle Pfeiffer: An Environmental Activist

Internationally renowned actress Michelle Pfeiffer has always captivated audiences with her versatile acting skills and timeless charm. She recently checked in at the 2024 Environmental Media Association Awards Gala at Sunset Las Palmas Studios on January 27 in Los Angeles. Apart from her acting career, Michelle Pfeiffer is also known for her ...

Soup Attack on Mona Lisa Sparks Sustainable Food Debate
Soup Attack on Mona Lisa Sparks Sustainable Food Debate

In a striking display of protest, the Mona Lisa, one of the world’s most iconic paintings, became the latest canvas for activists’ outcry, not with paint but with pumpkin soup. This action, which occurred in the heart of Paris at the renowned Louvre Museum, transcends mere vandalism and opens a critical dialogue on the intersection of art, ...

‘Unmasked’ or The Gallery of Portraits by Georges Meouchy
‘Unmasked’ or The Gallery of Portraits by Georges Meouchy

At Rebirth Beirut, in an exhibition titled "Unmasked," which runs from January 25 to February 3, 2024, gallerist Aïda Cherfan introduces us to a new talent: Georges Meouchy, an artist known for his original and unique style. A self-taught painter who also works as a notary, Meouchy acknowledges being inspired by his varied social and ...

Pedro Almodovar’s 'The Room Next Door' in English
Pedro Almodovar’s 'The Room Next Door' in English

Pedro Almodovar, the acclaimed Spanish filmmaker, is set to make a major comeback to feature-length cinema with an adventurous English-language film, The Room Next Door. Boasting a distinguished cast that includes Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, and John Turturro, this film is poised to become a significant milestone in the realm of art-house ...

Mozart Was Not Buried in a Mass Grave!
Mozart Was Not Buried in a Mass Grave!

The ongoing controversy surrounding the burial of Mozart, fueled by the film Amadeus, is debunked by reliable historical sources, refuting the idea of a mass grave. On the occasion of the commemoration of Mozart’s birthday, This is Beirut highlights the circumstances surrounding his death and funeral. The persistent myth that Wolfgang Amadeus ...

Paris Fashion Week: Georges Hobeika's Couture Tribute to His Lebanese Roots
Paris Fashion Week: Georges Hobeika's Couture Tribute to His Lebanese Roots

  During Paris Fashion Week, Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika presented his spring 2024 collection at the Hotel Pozzo di Borgo, an iconic venue in the French capital. This collection, titled The Golden Age of the Orient, marks a significant turning point in Hobeika’s artistic journey, bridging his Lebanese heritage with the modernity of ...

Anas Albraehe’s Sleeping Characters at the Saleh Barakat Gallery
Anas Albraehe’s Sleeping Characters at the Saleh Barakat Gallery

The Saleh Barakat Gallery is currently hosting a remarkable and deeply meaningful exhibition titled The Turn, a solo work by the young and talented Syrian artist Anas Albraehe, who now resides in Lebanon. Albraehe boasts a record of solo and group exhibitions in Lebanon, Jordan, the United States and other countries. In search of authenticity and ...

Love Affair on Everybody’s Lips: Fashion and Ballet
Love Affair on Everybody’s Lips: Fashion and Ballet

The symbiotic relationship between ballet and fashion, a phenomenon tracing its roots back centuries, remains a subject of considerable interest in the artistic world. The 2024 Paris Fashion Week serves as a contemporary testament to this enduring connection, with high-end fashion houses drawing inspiration from the elegant elements of dance. ...

Colorful Wind of Change for Fashion Designers in Iran
Colorful Wind of Change for Fashion Designers in Iran

In Iran, a vibrant challenge is sweeping through the fashion industry. Designers are trying to find balance between the traditionally dark attire and a burst of bright colors while navigating the stringent dress code for women.  Post-1979 revolution, Iran imposed a rigid dress code on women, mandating loose-fitting garments covering the head and ...

Georges Chakra’s Fashion Show Illuminates Paris’ Cathedral
Georges Chakra’s Fashion Show Illuminates Paris’ Cathedral

"An homage to the extraordinary at the heart of the ordinary." Such is the essence of Georges Chakra's Spring-Summer 2024 fashion show. On January 23, 2024, his collection, imbued with dreamlike realism, transformed the American Cathedral in Paris, the quintessential fashion capital, into an artistic immersion. The Spring-Summer 2024 couture show ...

‘Cute’ Exhibition in London: A Journey into Kawaii Culture
‘Cute’ Exhibition in London: A Journey into Kawaii Culture

In the heart of London, the Cute exhibition at Somerset House presents a unique exploration of the “cute” phenomenon in contemporary culture. This intriguing display, opening on Thursday, delves into the multifaceted influence of cuteness, a concept deeply ingrained in our everyday lives yet rich in complexity and history. The Somerset House, ...