Beirut Autopsy of a City

Lamia Joreige creates installations, pictures, and movies that explore memory narratives and materials to reflect on the history of her country, Lebanon. Beirut Autopsy of a City (2010) is a multimedia installation in three chapters: “A history of Beirut’s possible disappearance,” “Beirut, 1001 views,” and “Beirut, 2058.”

Working across one epoch and connecting different times, the project oscillates between the tasks of the poet and the archaeologist, between contemporary images and old documents. Joreige recounts the tales of conquests and defeats that shaped Beirut, including memories and experiences from the Civil War and the 2006 Lebanon War, skillfully interlacing them to create a deeply moving work. The work maintains a consistent grounding in truth, experimenting with documentary and fiction styles, and valuing individual stories and lesser-known histories through the effective use of non-linear storytelling.