*Ongoing Project
In Beirut, Dalieh is the city’s last natural outcrop and shared space where the public can freely access the coastline for their own recreational purposes. But today, this last remaining informal space is on the edge of disappearing, as the land is being given over to big developers with plans for the construction of a private resort.
In my search of how to tell its story, I found parallels in the epic poem “Dionysiaca” written by Nonnos of Panopolis in 5th century AD.
Beroë, the goddess-nymph, representing the city of Beirut in Phoenicia (modern Lebanon), was wooed by two gods, Dionysus and Poseidon, and became the object of a fierce fight between them. In their fight for the conquest of Beroë, both Gods unleash their wrath regardless of the damage and destruction they bring down on nature, and this becomes a metaphor that shapes my story about Dalieh and the people who use it, while I also examine our relationship and conflict with nature.
Mythology becomes the narrative thread for how I address and talk about one of the last remaining public spaces in Beirut.
This project has lead to a series of seawater and soil experiments, supernatural events and an open-ended conversation with nature. >>>
The Epic of Dalieh” project was granted the Arab Documentary Photography Program (ADPP) supported by AFAC, Magnum Foundation and Prince Claus Fund.
For prints inquiry or media request, contact me at roisaade@gmail.com
