On August 4 2020, one of the biggest non-nuclear blasts in history occurred in Lebanon. Lebanese people’s homes were broken. So were their lives, hearts, dreams, hopes, families. The entire country collapsed.
Their resilience and determination to unveil the truth and to see justice take its course persist. However, one year after the explosion in Beirut there are still no answers about who was responsible. A new campaign intends to break the silence. It is called, We Are Unbreakable.
#WeAreUnbreakable is a joint initiative between regional creative agency, TBWA\RAAD, and Lebanon’s leading television channel, MTV, in collaboration with Swiss shattered glass artist, Simon Berger, who flew from Geneva to support the cause, and art historian and gallerist, Laurent Marthaler.
Berger, who created the famous portrait of Kamala Harris upon her election as US Vice President, spent ten days in Lebanon creating portraits of the victims on sheets of glass recycled from the explosion. During his stay, he visited the explosion site, as well as several of the victims’ family members to pay his condolences and find out more about the stories that hid behind the faces he was bringing to life. The portraits he created “took a stand” on one of the country’s most renowned television shows, Sar el Waaet, hosted by journalist, Marcel Ghanem, during a special episode aired live from the site of the explosion on August 4 at 8:30 pm Beirut time, in memory of the victims. The world will be faced with the chilling presence of the victims in front of the port silos, in hopes that this “glass demonstration” will contribute to bringing justice to life.
The portraits will exhibited at Beit Beirut, also known as the Yellow House, a historic landmark that celebrates the history of Beirut, to be part of the museum’s permanent collection, as a constant reminder of the demand for justice.
“I am very delighted to have visited Lebanon for the first time, a beautiful city filled with good and genuine people,” Berger stated. “Visiting the explosion site, meeting the families of the victims, hearing their stories, and sharing their pain was a very emotional experience for me, one that will remain in memory for life. I truly hope that my art will contribute to bringing justice to the victims, their families and the people of Lebanon because they deserve it.”
Habib Ghobril, general manager at MTV, commented, “For an entire year, MTV Lebanon has been trying to shed light on the unknown, to intimidate politicians and question judges. On the occasion of the first commemoration of a day that has forever changed the lives of the Lebanese people, we decided to call for the truth in our own special way – to state boldly and clearly that no matter what breaks, we refuse to let go of the truth; we will continue to pursue justice for the victims. Lebanon and its people are unbreakable.”
Walid Kanaan, chief creative officer at TBWA\RAAD, stated, “We are Unbreakable took us on an intense and very emotional journey, one we felt wholeheartedly compelled to take. We would like to thank Simon Berger for his generous and thoughtful contribution. It was an honour to have him in Beirut. Putting talent and art at the service of such a strong cause gives creativity a much more meaningful purpose. We hope to see justice served at the soonest possible time. Until then, #WeAreUnbreakable.”
