Lebanon’s powerful and poetic exhibition, And From My Heart I Blow Kisses to the Sea and Houses, has won the prestigious Best International Participation award at the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition (Instagram). Curated by Ala Tannir and supported by the Graham Foundation, AFAC, and House of Today, the exhibition is a striking meditation on architectural preservation, memory, and resilience.
The Triennale Milano International Exhibition, hosted every three years in Milan, is a globally acclaimed event dedicated to showcasing contemporary design, art, and architecture. Known for its thematic explorations of pressing global issues, the Triennale fosters dialogue between creative disciplines, drawing artists, architects, and cultural institutions from around the world.
This year’s edition, themed Unknown Unknowns, probes into the mysteries and complexities of our evolving world. Amidst the diverse international contributions, Lebanon’s entry stands out for its poignant blend of contemporary art and architectural heritage.
The exhibition centres on the rehabilitation of a French Mandate–era coastal house in Beirut—a fragile yet enduring structure that has witnessed decades of urban change and conflict. With its once-vibrant interiors now bearing traces of violence and time, the house represents a rare survivor among Beirut’s architectural heritage.
Instead of adhering to conventional preservation practices, the project adopts an experimental, artistic approach, partially reconstructing the house through the same methods that contributed to its rehabilitation. The result is a living installation that intertwines the house’s physical presence with the collective memories of its past inhabitants.
And From My Heart I Blow Kisses to the Sea and Houses challenges traditional narratives of architectural conservation. It brings the Mediterranean house to Milan, evoking both the beauty and fragility of Beirut’s urban fabric. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the space, contemplating the layered histories it contains and the stories of resilience it embodies.
Through this intimate and immersive experience, the exhibition not only honours Beirut’s built heritage but also questions how cultural identity can be preserved amid relentless real estate pressures and socio-political upheavals.
By situating the house within the international context of Triennale Milano, the exhibition transcends geographical boundaries, positioning Beirut’s local narrative within a global conversation about loss, memory, and the struggle to preserve identity. The recognition from Triennale Milano underscores the exhibition’s profound impact and the enduring relevance of its message.
As visitors leave the installation, they are left with the echo of the house’s enduring presence—a tribute to the power of architecture not just as a structure but as a vessel of memory and resistance.
The event runs until November 11.
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Cover Photo Credit:
and from my heart I blow kisses to the sea and houses, Beirut, installation view showing from left to right works by Khyam Allami, Lara Tabet, Jana Traboulsi with 7w20. Photo: Vicken Avakian Coalescence, Lara Tabet, Beirut, 2024. Photo: Vicken Avakian.
