collage and drawing on LBP
beirut, 2022
In Lebanon in 2022, we witnessed the devastating effects of hyperinflation following the Beirut harbor explosion and the COVID-19 pandemic, that left nearly three-quarters of the population below the poverty line. I created an artwork reflecting this economic turmoil. Because of the hyperinflation, we carried large amounts of banknotes in everyday life. These devalued Lebanese banknotes became the primary material for my artwork. Tearing, cutting, and rearranging these notes, I created collages infused with stories and experiences out of our local community. By destroying and repurposing the currency, I was symbolically mirroring the country’s economic destruction while simultaneously creating new value through art.
Foto: Nastia Yakovenko and Lukas Preisinger