Almost 200 people were killed, and several were injured in a massive explosion at the port in Beirut on Aug. 4, devastating the heart of residential areas and the city’s vibrant commercial district.

While the city still recovers from the trauma, the reopening of an art gallery in the region has brought some healing to people. Galerie Tanit --an art gallery in Beirut was damaged in this blast amidst the ongoing economic crisis.

Located less than 600 meters from the port, the art gallery sustained enormous damage to its space and ­artworks. But today, after almost a year, the gallery has come to life. The walls have been repainted and the glass windows restored, but the sound of loud piercing reverberates from the back room.

The gallery has now opened for the public with a new show named ‘Togetherness’ featuring the works of local Lebanese artists. A total of 19 artists are showcasing their work after an open call for submissions and 17 projects were selected.

After the blast, a lot of young artists living in the area were affected by the blast and bouncing back with an exhibition was the way forward.

An artwork by Rayane Raidi that shows a painting of stretched, interlaced bodies echo the exhibition’s theme, aiming to ‘describe, question, challenge and embrace the thought of being together again.’

The exhibition which showcases a set of a new generation of artists has very well adhered to the theme and the current situation of the pandemic. A light installation on the changing nature of private and public spaces as a result of the pandemic has been installed at the exhibition. The interactive installation consists of moveable white cubes with coloured lighting, made of textures and materials commonly found in the home.

Another artwork comprised of a photo and video installation about the days spent in isolation with her bed-bound grandmother.

Due to the economic crises, many artists were unable to procure materials and has to limit their ideas on paper. Many artists’ work spoke about all the crises the country has been growing through.

Photographers Noel Nasr and Cliff Makhoul’s series DevaL. L.uation highlighted the impact of the Lebanese lira’s depreciation on daily life.

Artist Eliesh’s video installation shows footage of Lebanon’s October 2019 revolution, with a focus on the feet of the marching protesters.

Some of the artworks blend the poetic with the political, whereas some have referenced the blasts through their works. One of the artists Sarah Sehnaoui has tried to capture the shattered fragments of a woman’s pelvis through representation in a series of ceramic objects.

The exhibition is a way of stepping towards hopefulness amidst keeping a check on the economic realities through their work. One can visit the exhibit till August 7 at Galerie Tanit.