Lebanese commemorate Beirut port explosion anniversary with statue, music
Activists and families of the victims of the deadly Beirut port blast have criticized a statue that was erected at the explosion site, saying they need to get to the truth behind the explosion before holding any memorial.
BEIRUT — A giant iron sculpture was unveiled in the heart of the Beirut port on Aug. 2, just days before the first anniversary of the deadly explosion on Aug. 4, 2020.
The artwork, dubbed “The Gesture” with the slogan “A Genie of Ashes,” was made from the wreckage of the port blast that ripped through the city last year.
The statue is 25 meters high and weighs about 30 tons. Designed by Lebanese architect Nadim Karam, the sculpture took nine months to be completed in collaboration with volunteers, professionals, specialists and private companies.
“The artwork is a tribute to the victims of the explosion that took place in the Beirut port last year and changed the face of the city,” Karam told Al-Monitor.
