A fascinating exhibition is held on the grounds of Deir el-Qalaa, an 18th-century monastery with extensive Roman ruins in the hills above Beirut. The open-air exhibition, titled Lost in the Right Direction, displays the work of 37 contemporary Lebanese and international artists, forming a dialogue between antiquity and modernity, as well as design, photography, and installation works in different parts of the ruins.

 

 Running until January 9, the exhibition is organized by Art Design Lebanon (AD Leb), a cultural space directed by Annie Vartivarian.

 

Vartivarian created AD Leb in honor of her late daughter, up-and-coming designer Gaia Vodolian, who was killed in the Beirut explosion in 2020. Her goal is to keep Gaia's name and memory alive.

 

As spirits run low in Lebanon, the themes of the show are varied, as it explores loss, memory, the passage of time, the Lebanese landscape, and a sense of hope. In a setting of ruins and mosaic floors, it offers a meditative experience.

 

Here are some artworks: