Ressac

Ressac

Les éléments de continuité de Beyrouth se nouent par des liens précaires, agités de long en large par des évènements impétueux comme des vagues qui ne cessent pas de se briser contre la terre, où les fonds restent immutables.
La cité projette une image paradoxale d’une vie belliqueuse et séduisante. Mais au fond, elle se tourmente pour le manque d’unité communautaire, subissant la rémanence de chaque déferlement de vague qui repousse la réalisation d’une conscience collective de soi.
Les photos de cette série, prises à Beyrouth reflètent une république qui n’a pas gagné en maturité depuis sa conception en 1943 et qui peine toujours à trouver une vision cohérente de soi. Ce qui surgit est l’incapacité de la volonté individuelle face à la lassitude collective.

A woman stands in front of a construction hoarding promoting a hotel project to be built by Jean Nouvel in Beirut's city center. The hotel never materialized. Beirut, 2006.

A woman stands in front of a construction hoarding promoting a hotel project to be built by Jean Nouvel in Beirut's city center. The hotel never materialized. Beirut, 2006.

A worker destroys a traditional Lebanese building. Since 2000, Beirut has seen a wave of demolition of its traditional houses to make place for towers. Beirut, 2009.

A worker destroys a traditional Lebanese building. Since 2000, Beirut has seen a wave of demolition of its traditional houses to make place for towers. Beirut, 2009.

Two women pass by a burnt car that has not been towed away for years. Beirut, 2009.

Two women pass by a burnt car that has not been towed away for years. Beirut, 2009.

Two boys enjoys a summer afternoon on Ramlit El Bayda's neglected beach, Beirut's only remaining free public beach. Beirut, 2009.

Two boys enjoys a summer afternoon on Ramlit El Bayda's neglected beach, Beirut's only remaining free public beach. Beirut, 2009.

A man walks by a partially peeled wall displaying a trompe l'oeil that does not fully disguise its run-down state. Beirut, 2009.

A man walks by a partially peeled wall displaying a trompe l'oeil that does not fully disguise its run-down state. Beirut, 2009.

Two boys play war on the streets of Ras El Nabeh, an area that has seen numerous outbreaks of violence over the years. Beirut, 2009.

Two boys play war on the streets of Ras El Nabeh, an area that has seen numerous outbreaks of violence over the years. Beirut, 2009.

A reinforced wall in the eastern part of Beirut, that displays scars of shrapnel and sniper gunfire, has not been taken down since the end of the Lebanese war. Beirut, 2009.

A reinforced wall in the eastern part of Beirut, that displays scars of shrapnel and sniper gunfire, has not been taken down since the end of the Lebanese war. Beirut, 2009.

A figurine of a boy, with a broken arm repaired with scotch tape, waving a Lebanese flag. Beirut, 2009.

A figurine of a boy, with a broken arm repaired with scotch tape, waving a Lebanese flag. Beirut, 2009.

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