Light and Dust: site-specific project for St. Francis' 800th anniversary in Beirut
Angelo Gioè, the head of the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut, has developed 'Light and Dust', a unique visual and sound installation to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's passing (1226–2026). This project will take place from July 16 to 30, 2026, in the historic garden of the Silk Museum of Bsous, which has been closed for five years due to conflict. Gioè, who specializes in classical philology and contemporary art, intends to eliminate any confessional language, emphasizing the human aspect of Francis to resonate within Lebanon's diverse society. Originally intended for Italian artists, the exhibition now showcases Lebanese talents, curated by filmmaker Soula Saad, including Fadia Tomb El Hage, Yamane, and others. Local materials are featured, such as bird sculptures from washed-up waste and textiles with multilingual calligraphy. The experience concludes in a white room filled solely with natural sounds, reminiscent of the Umbrian landscape.
Key facts
- Angelo Gioè is director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut
- Project 'Light and Dust' marks 800 years since St. Francis of Assisi's death (1226–2026)
- Installation runs July 16–30, 2026 at Silk Museum of Bsous garden
- The garden was closed for 5 years due to war
- Gioè stripped the project of confessional language to focus on the human Francis
- Artists were asked not to represent Francis but to engage with a common question
- Originally planned for Italian artists, but travel advisories led to Lebanese participants
- Soula Saad curated the spatial development of the exhibition
- Participants include Fadia Tomb El Hage, Yamane, Marwan Tohmé, AKL AKL, Arlette Sauveur, Joanne Hennaoui Audi, Kamal Vagabondo, Nagib Massaad, Tony Maalouf
- One installation uses birds made from waste washed ashore, referencing Lebanon's pollution
- Another installation incorporates textiles with calligraphy from St. Francis's writings
- The experience culminates in a white room with only natural sounds
Entities
Artists
- Angelo Gioè
- Soula Saad
- Fadia Tomb El Hage
- Yamane
- Marwan Tohmé
- AKL AKL
- Arlette Sauveur
- Joanne Hennaoui Audi
- Kamal Vagabondo
- Nagib Massaad
- Tony Maalouf
Institutions
- Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut
- Silk Museum of Bsous
- Artribune
Locations
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Silk Museum of Bsous
- Aley
- Italy
- Umbria