The Inauguration Ceremony of the White Wall 2017 Initiative

Fransabank and the French Institute in Lebanon inaugurated the White Wall Beirut initiative. In the context of this initiative, three talented artists created their own styles of Calligraffiti on three walls in Beirut sharing one theme - intercultural dialogue. 

The three walls have been chosen on the former Green Line area, which had divided Beirut into two sections. On the first wall in Sodeco, the Lebanese young artist Yazan Halwani painted portraits of Tarek and Mai - the two main characters in the famous Lebanese drama film “West Beirut”, written and directed by Ziad Doueiri. On the second wall in Verdun, the Dutch visual artist, graffiti writer, and graphic designer, Niels Shoe Meulman blended the words “East” and “West” pouring a new dimension. And on the wall of Gemayzeh, the French-Tunisian artist & calligrapher, eL Seed, quoted a line from the Lebanese American writer, Amine Rihani: " I wish to live without hating anyone, to love without envying anybody, to rise without looking down at anyone, and to step further without trampling on anyone nor envy those who are above me.” 

 

“In supporting contemporary art, Lebanon proves to be a meeting point between East and West, imposing itself as a bridge of communication, and conveying a message of love,” Noted Dania Kassar, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication Department at Fransabank, “Lebanon through art is reflecting a model for cultural coexistence. Thus, we at Fransabank proudly share values ​​of openness and dialogue with the French Institute and French Embassy, as our presence side by side portrays the consolidation of a long-term joint cooperation, aiming to serving Lebanon and promote an artistic culture for future generations.”