BEIRUT - In celebration of the Museum and Galleries Month, officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon visited the Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum and Art on 56th Gallery in Beirut.
The tour started at the newly-opened Sursock Museum which was reopened on 26 May 2023, three years after it was damaged by the Beirut port blast. Originally a family-owned property of Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock, the villa was donated to the city of Beirut to be turned into a museum. The museum currently houses a modern and contemporary art exhibit alongside archived permanent collection and exhibitions from various artists, accumulated during the Salon d’automne, an annual art contest in Lebanon since the 1960s.
Photo: Philippine Embassy personnel visit the newly-reopened Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum.
Following the museum visit, the Embassy personnel also graced Art on 56th, an art gallery which currently features the works of painter Lebanese painter, Edgard Mazigi. His work depicts an abstract expressionism style with inspiration from the Renaissance art movement. The gallery visit seeks to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of Lebanon’s contemporary art scene. Art on 56th is among a number of active galleries celebrating various local and foreign artists. The exhibit entitled Intermediaries Spaces will run from 29 September to 21 October.
Photos: (Left) H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat and Vice Consul Miko D. Cabatingan with painter, Mr. Edgard Mazigi. (Right) Mr. Mazigi’s artwork displayed in Art on 56th Gallery.
The Embassy’s visit to the Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum and Art on 56th Gallery seeks to deepen understanding of Lebanon’s heritage and culture through art. This year’s focus on visual arts, encompassing various historical periods, complements last year’s visit to the Mineral Museum and Beirut National Museum.
Photo: Philippine Embassy personnel in the Sursock Museum salon which features intricate Islamic and Ottoman art with materials from various parts of the region.
With the theme “Exhibits and Reflections: Crafting Opportunities for the New World,” the museum and galleries celebration in the Philippines highlights the role of these institutions in showcasing art forms as a way to interpret the various facets of humanity. In viewing these art forms, one could reflect on them and thus can create new opportunities for the future. The Philippine Embassy seeks to deepen its knowledge and understanding of Lebanon’s cultural identity and heritage as the relations between the two countries progress. The Philippines-Lebanon diplomatic relations will mark its 77th anniversary on 24 October 2023.
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