Exhibition Captures South Lebanon's Soul

The "Tell Me, South" exhibition, hosted at Beit Beirut, has attracted significant visitor numbers since its May opening. This display features family photographs, personal testimonies, and intimate stories from South Lebanon.

Its core objective is to represent the region through its residents, countering narratives solely focused on destruction. The exhibition seeks to ensure the South's past is not forgotten and that war does not erase its identity from collective memory.

Conceived in haste just three weeks before opening, during a period of recent conflict, organizers questioned the timing. However, after six weeks, the turnout of over 7,200 visitors and numerous visitor contributions confirmed a profound public interest.

Delphine Abi Rached, the initiative's executive director, stated the project was a cultural response to current events. She noted initial anxieties about audience reception, fearing a reduction of their experiences, but found the opposite occurred, with visitors embracing the exhibit.

Abi Rached explained that sometimes words fail to capture complex realities, making spaces for shared experience crucial. She emphasized there is no perfect time to discuss difficult histories, especially when people from the South feel a strong desire to share.

The exhibition intentionally targets both those from the South and other Lebanese who may have limited knowledge of the region. It highlights shared Lebanese experiences and the common ground connecting different regions.

Family photos from Southern villages are presented to show universal family life, fostering a sense of unity rather than division among Lebanese people.

Curator Nour Nasr noted over 130 messages have become part of the exhibition, with visitors writing to lost homes or loved ones. This interactive element underscores the exhibition's dynamic nature.

Nasr shared that reading visitor messages, filled with loss and longing, was deeply impactful. These contributions reveal that the connection to South Lebanon extends beyond geography to encompass family, memory, and identity.

Visitors like Jana, 22, felt transported by the testimonies, experiencing historical events firsthand. Nawal, 47, revisited cherished memories of returning to her village after liberation in 2000.

The exhibition reopens in September, incorporating new photos and artifacts. Abi Rached stressed the project's value lies in acknowledging lived experiences and safeguarding stories, affirming existence and identity.

She confirmed the exhibition's essence will remain, as its ongoing evolution through visitor contributions reflects its core purpose.