Memory Tree Beirut

Memories of war in a piece of art

Rayan from Beirut

""Memory Tree" is a beautiful piece of art in Beirut that's hardly known to tourists. It is a symbolic cemetery that honors the famine victims of 1915-18..."

This beautiful piece of art is hardly talked about or even known to tourists. It is basically a symbolic cemetery to honor the victims of the famine between 1915 and 1918. During that period, more than half the population died or migrated, and there really wasn’t anything in the city to tell the story of Lebanon’s wars. The only thing that remained as a memory of the famine were the trees, which is why Yazan Halwani, a well known Lebanese artist chose to use a tree as a symbol. There’s an inscription on a plate there that translates something to "As Lebanese, we have a memory loss about the wars that happened and that is why wars keep happening in order to keep reminding us of the past wars".

This artwork was created out of metal and it took over a year and a half to complete. Each leaf forms the words of revered writers that were contemporary with the famine such as Tawfik Yusuf Awwad and Khalil Gibran, whose poem “dead are my people” was dedicated to the famine’s victims!

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Beirut Spotter Rayan

About me I'm a Lebanese born in 1994, raised in Zimbabwe and currently living in Beirut and working with UNICEF. I consider myself a traveler, humanitarian, poet, writer, human rights activist and a global citizen. I have worked with different vulnerable communities in 7 different countries and have traveled to around 26 countries so far. I am passionate about places, cities, people and books! Why Beirut I love Beirut for its simplicity, diversity and historical marks. Beirut is a small city where you can go anywhere any day and any time. You can feel like you are in ...

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Damascus road, sodeco

LBP

no-price

Oct 4, 2025

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