2024-03-22 21:00:00
A tribute exhibition organized by the Italian Cultural Center
The late Italian Gabriele Basilico is one of the most famous photographers who documented the landmarks of different cities in the world with his camera. Beirut was one of the capitals he visited repeatedly. He witnessed the first of these visits in 1991, where he toured the regions documenting the effects of war and destruction.
Basilico loved this city, and it caught his attention with its architectural spectacle. He also admired its alleys, streets, and the striking contradictions that inhabited it. He visited it again over a period of 3 years: 2003, 2008, and 2011.
Today, Beirut hosts a group of his works through the “City and Story” exhibition at the “Beirut Art Center,” as a tribute to him from the Italian Cultural Center, sponsored by his embassy. It includes about 57 photographs that highlight the beauty of several cities, including Madrid, Paris, London, Shanghai, and Istanbul, in addition to present-day Beirut through 5 paintings, in which Basilico documents scenes from its destroyed markets and its center when it was in the process of being built.
The late artist depicted the changes of cities over time (Italian Cultural Center)
The exhibition also presents part of the intellectual journey of the photographer who was specifically interested in the history of cities, showing the links of memory that are present in the journalistic photographic vision, to touch the development in the cultural scene. It also witnesses the participation of many photographic works that were previously presented in exhibitions by the Hariri Foundation (1991) and the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco (2007).
The new director of the Italian Cultural Center, Dr. Angelo Goi, chose Basilico’s works to constitute the first of his activities in Lebanon. He confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the exhibition clearly shows the late artist’s passion for the changes of cities over time.
He continues: “Basilico loved Beirut, and wanted to publish a special book about it, but he left before realizing his dream,” stressing the exceptional relationship between the painter and the Lebanese capital, “so the center wanted to offer him this greeting from a city he loved.”
The exhibition was followed by other cultural activities that the Italian Cultural Center intends to hold in Lebanon. Joey continues: “Through it, we will highlight great artistic names such as Basilico, with our determination to encourage rising talents whose star is currently shining in the world of photography.”
On the occasion, journalists responded to the invitation to view the exhibition. Basilico’s paintings were distributed among the sections of the Beirut Art Center, and it was noted in most of his works the extent of his focus on architectural art and the absence of the human presence. The late artist always wanted to highlight the new changes in the general aesthetic landscape of each city he depicted. He repeatedly visited the same city to see its transformations, so that his camera lens would not miss it.
Black and white and color photographs were used by Basilico to convey his messages. Most of them are positive about cities that rose from their decline following war or economic crises. Among the paintings of Beirut, one stands out that deals with its high-rise buildings in the St. George area, while another photo he took in the city center in front of the famous Muhammad Al-Amin Mosque shows the Lebanese capital emerging from under the rubble under a blue sky.
Basilico’s passion for cities characterizes the exhibition (Italian Cultural Center)
Also, Gabriel Basilico’s camera overlooks the destroyed Exhibition Street in central Beirut, in one of the pictures that make up his collection of the city after the end of the war.
In another section of the exhibition, visitors explore urban developments in various cities, including São Paulo in Brazil, Berlin, and Rome. Angelo Goi comments: “We notice in photographs taken by the late artist in Venice, Italy, his restoration of drawings by famous artists through the camera. He intended to take a picture in the style of Pilotto, who is famous for conveying beautiful scenes with his brush.”
The “City and a Story” exhibition continues until next April 6, and is held in cooperation with the Gabriel Basilico Archive and the Beirut Art Center.
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