Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024.
Interview

Preservation as reinterpretation. A new cultural hub in Beirut. The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture.

Despite the unstable situation in Lebanon, The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture, whose official inauguration was scheduled for September 2024, has chosen to open its doors to visitors with its inaugural exhibition, Portals and Pathways: A Journey Through Reality and Imagination, designed and organised by the Beirut Museum of Art. Together with the National Museum of Beirut, and in the face of the unimaginable violence, destruction, and suffering being inflicted upon the country, the Pavilion stands as a space of support, influence, and continuity to culture and heritage. 

It welcomes all those seeking to gather in a place fully dedicated to art and thought – a space for breathing and reflection-however momentary and symbolic this may be. Youmna Ziadé Karam, committee member of The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture, and Juliana Khalaf Salhab, Beirut Museum of Art Co-Director, talk about this new important sign of hope for the whole Middle Eastern region.

Youmna Ziadé Karam, Committee Member of The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture
Youmna Ziadé Karam, Committee Member of The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture

Why did you want to establish the Pavilion? What is the mission?

Youmna Ziadé Karam: Establishing the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture marks a new milestone in the long-standing journey of commitment that ties the National Heritage Foundation to the National Museum of Beirut. The Foundation was entrusted with the renovation and rehabilitation of the National Museum after the Civil War. Since then, the Foundation has continuously played a crucial role in keeping this cultural institution alive. The mission of the Pavilion is to create a space that honours and shares the cultural richness of Lebanon’s heritage through innovative programmes, exhibitions, and community engagement; to establish the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture as a state-of-the-art hub that anchors national identity, that sparks curiosity and stimulates creativity while supporting the National Museum of Beirut by generating revenues. A space dedicated to organising and hosting cultural and social activities such as exhibitions, conferences, round tables, book signings, and other corporate activities to support the National Museum of Beirut financially.

In addition, the Pavilion Café, with a concept designed and managed by Chef Hussein Hadid, is ready to host various events.

At its core, this project is the result and culmination of an exercise in sensitivity. It aims to play a necessary part in the evolution and sustainability of an institution that represents the heart and soul of national memory and heritage.
—Youmna Ziadé Karam

The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture. Photo by Caroline Tabet.
The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture. Photo by Caroline Tabet.
Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024.
Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024.
Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024.
Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024.

How is the Pavilion organised? And how does it link with the National Museum?

Youmna Ziadé Karam: Rather than standing out, the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture is all about integration and space design. It acts as a blank canvas, a white box that can be reformatted according to each activity and event set to take place inside its walls. 

At its core, this project is the result and culmination of an exercise in sensitivity. It aims to play a necessary part in the evolution and sustainability of an institution that represents the heart and soul of national memory and heritage. The generous and open state-of-the-art spaces within the Pavilion are set to host local and international exhibitions, events, and cultural activities throughout the year. These halls will serve as the space the Museum needs to continue playing an active part in the country’s ever-evolving cultural development.

Beyond stones and skylights, the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture strives to inject life and conversations into a space that has remained silent over the past decades. This is reflected not only in the structure itself but also in the institution’s organisation and planned activities. It embodies the spirit of collaboration, with invaluable contributions from donors, architects, engineers, and cultural experts. Its committee gathers experts from all relevant fields, oversees operations, and makes decisions collegial.

Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024.
Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024.

Speaking of collegiality. Tell us more about the current exhibition, Portals and Pathways: A Journey Through Reality and Imagination.

Juliana Khalaf Salhab: The exhibition is a strong collaboration between BeMA and the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture, reflecting a shared commitment to preserving Lebanon’s cultural heritage. The exhibition draws inspiration from Maurice Chehab’s efforts to safeguard Beirut’s National Museum during the Lebanese Civil War by cementing the “portals” to protect its treasures. Architect Raëd Abillama, inspired by this legacy, designed the Pavilion’s entrance to evoke these protective structures, making it a tribute to Chehab and guiding the exhibition’s direction and design.

This significant exhibition showcases newly restored works from the Lebanese Ministry of Culture’s collection, presented publicly for the first time under BeMA’s stewardship. These heritage pieces, conserved by BeMA’s expert team, are displayed alongside contemporary Lebanese art and select works from private collections. Together, they create a dialogue across periods and styles, re-contextualising art to resonate with today’s audiences while reflecting Lebanon’s layered identity and histories of strife and renewal. Thematically, the exhibition is built around four conceptual “portals” (memory, myths, perception, and territory) that link historical and contemporary art through shared narratives. These themes bridge reality and imagination, exploring Lebanon’s deep ties to its land, culture, and collective memory. The works invite reflection on cultural preservation as a dynamic process of reinterpretation.

Together, they create a dialogue across periods and styles, re-contextualising art to resonate with today’s audiences while reflecting Lebanon’s layered identity and histories of strife and renewal.
— Juliana Khalaf Salhab

Juliana Khalaf Salhab, Co-Director of BEMA, courtesy of Mahmoud Merjan.
Juliana Khalaf Salhab, Co-Director of BEMA, courtesy of Mahmoud Merjan.

You mentioned the Pavillon’s design. From the point of view of architecture, what would you say are the most important features of the building?

Youmna Ziadé Karam: Raëd Abillama Architects is an award-winning architectural firm which brought the National Museum’s aspirations to life, creating a polyvalent space. As part of his design approach, Abillama researched the museum’s archives and discovered that the original plans for the Museum included two wings that were linked to the main building. This was the winning project of a competition organised in 1928, a design presented by Pierre Leprince-Ringuet and Antoine Nahas. Only the left wing was subsequently constructed, leaving an open space to the Museum’s right that would ultimately be filled by the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture. This new wing was thus thought of as an extension, a reflection of the original building. It was built with the same materials used for the initial construction and stands as its organic extension, albeit in a modern idiom. 

The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture. Photo by Caroline Tabet.
The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © The Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture. Photo by Caroline Tabet.

The Pavilion stands as a space of support, influence, and continuity to culture and heritage. But how is Lebanon’s cultural scene affected by the tensions in the Middle East region?

Youmna Ziadé Karam: The 2024 war in Lebanon has had severe impacts on the country’s cultural heritage. Historic sites, including some UNESCO World Heritage locations, have faced significant risks from missile strikes and bombings. For instance, in Baalbek, the immediate proximity of missile fire to the ancient Roman temples of Jupiter, Venus, and Bacchus raised concerns about potential damage to these globally significant ruins. Though the structures were not directly hit, the cultural community has sought international intervention to protect these sites from further harm. Beyond physical destruction, the war has exacerbated Lebanon’s ongoing socio-economic crisis, impacting cultural institutions and creative industries, leading to instability and funding shortages. This not only disrupts the preservation of Lebanon’s historical narrative but also limits its ability to rebuild culturally.

Juliana Khalaf Salhab: Coincidentally, the opening of Portals and Pathways was planned for the day the 2024 Lebanese war started. Although the opening ceremony was cancelled, the doors of the exhibition stayed open to the public, carrying a poignant message. It highlights the enduring power of art and heritage to offer identity, hope, and continuity in adversity. Portals and Pathways celebrates Lebanon’s artistic legacy and strength, imagining a future where art becomes a pathway to shared histories and dreams.

It highlights the enduring power of art and heritage to offer identity, hope, and continuity in adversity. Portals and Pathways celebrates Lebanon’s artistic legacy and strength, imagining a future where art becomes a pathway to shared histories and dreams.
— Juliana Khalaf Salhab

Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024 2
Portals & Pathways, Exhibition View at the Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture © Beirut Museum of Art, 2024

About The Author

Niccolò Lucarelli

Niccolò
Lucarelli

Niccolò Lucarelli holds a degree in International Studies but also has a background in the arts and academia. He works as an art critic for esteemed European publications. His curatorial research is primarily dedicated to exploring the influence of socio-political subjects on artistic practices. He keenly examines how artists engage with and respond to these themes, resulting in thought-provoking exhibitions and projects. He has curated shows in Italy, Euorpe and Africa. He also works as a military historian for the Italian Army General Staff and has published some essays and books on World War I and II.

This might interest you