As the sun sets on the backdrop of the sea, a plane is captured in Lebanon's sky (Credit: Florient Zouein)
Sanayeh Garden has been buzzing with an unusual energy in the past few days. Alongside its tranquil circular basin, visitors meander past billboards nestled in the shade of its evergreen trees.
The centerpiece of this outdoor gallery is an image of a plane ascending into a fiery sunset, followed by a collection of 30 photographs carefully curated by artist Florient Zwein. Each image is intended as a heartfelt tribute bidding farewell to Lebanon and marking his imminent departure from the country in a few weeks.
An eye-catching display in the Sanayeh garden. (Credit: Alexandra Henry)
A one-sided attachment
Zwein, a French-Lebanese photographer, spent his childhood summers in Lebanon with his father's family. Absent since 2015, Zwein was visiting Lebanon in 2020 when a seismic event occurred, solidifying his decision to settle in Lebanon. Following the port explosion that shook the capital on August 4, 2020, he abandoned his plans to leave Lebanon. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves and joined the throngs of volunteers engaged in clearing rubble and rebuilding the city. His camera never left his side. He steadfastly documented the aftermath, from the raw devastation to the fervent protests that ensued. These visual chronicles culminated in his book, "Beirut, des cendres à la colère" (Beirut, from Ashes to Anger). This event transformed what began as a two-month summer vacation into what he describes as an extended “four years of passion for Lebanon.”
Departure, a long-standing project
Reflecting on themes of departure has long been woven into Zwein's artistic journey, dating back to his high school years when he shot a short film about fleeting visits to Lebanon, a land he felt drawn to capture through his lens. At age 20, he opted for photography as his preferred medium of expression. "I like to show things as they are, I want to capture the moment, capture reality," he explains, describing his immersive process during which he takes long and contemplative walks through Lebanon’s landscapes.
Now, as Zwein prepares to bid Lebanon farewell, his parting takes a distinctive form: an exhibition of photographs displayed amid the benches encircling the grand Sanayeh fountain. Choosing this public garden as his gallery underscores his desire to share the multifaceted "Lebanese story" with people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Each photograph encapsulates moments of fragile emotion — the tender emotions of seaside lovers, the indefinite wait of a sunbaked fisherman, and the solitude or sorrow of people staring into the vast horizon.
Zouein's photos in the shade of the trees in Sanayeh's garden. (Credit: Alexandra Henry)
Lebanon, a country that separates...
Between Lebanon's snow-capped mountains and serene coastlines, Zwein attempts to soften the pain of separation with a calm and harmonious canvas — depicting Lebanon as a place where emotions mingle and clash.
His art portrays Lebanon as a land where emotions collide, navigating between peace and war, departure and return — a daily dance for its people, juggling the dualities of the country and trying to find equilibrium to survive. Zwein states that his own identity merges with Lebanon's complex tapestry, resonating with a profound ambivalence of emotions, torn between anger and love. Amid the chaos, he manages to find peace, "I find myself in Lebanon," he reflects.
Through his images, the Zwien recounts the country's tragic destiny of separation. "Lebanon is a country that separates, if not by the departure of children, then by death,” he writes beneath his snapshots. A mother passes by one of his photographs titled “Is saying goodbye to their children the only fate of Lebanese mothers?” As she gazes at it, a tear rolls down her cheek.
Zouein's camera captures a fisherman on Lebanon's coastal landscape. (Credit: Florient Zwein)
...and that units us together with all the more emotion
In these shots, Zwein evokes a country that offers both the worst and the best. He doesn't want to limit himself to the idea of suffering and heartbreak; he also celebrates the feeling of return, the love of coming together — illustrated by the descending airplanes piercing the pink twilight sky and symbolizing the promise of families reuniting, lovers embracing, and friends coming together.
He explains that he loves visiting Beirut’s seaside, as he sees more planes landing than leaving. It's a place where he feels the Lebanese sentiment of homecoming. "When the plane lands, I move to the window's left to catch a glimpse of the mountains, then the city drawing nearer," he reminisces.
As summer approaches and expatriates pack their bags for home, "By the Sea" resonates more profoundly than ever, echoing the emotions of farewell and reunion — a Lebanese characteristic. At its core, this exhibition illustrated through Zwein's snapshots of Beirut’s seaside at sunset, mirrors the journey of its creator— a man who has fallen in love with a country that unfolds before him in all its complex layers.
"By the Sea" is an exhibition by Florient Zwein on display until June 16, 2024.
Sanayeh Garden/Rene Moawad Garden, Sanayeh sector, Beirut, open daily from 6 am to 6 pm.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour, and translated by Tasnim Chaaban.
