Beirut 1991

As part of a project dedicated to the memory of the Beirut war, this reflection on the destruction of a city captures the horrific and decimating effects of such a conflict. With unbiased accuracy and artistic vision, photography master Gabriele Basilico exemplifies war reportage and the value of captured images as a means to keep historical memories alive. He visited the war-torn city in 1991 and again in 2003 to showcase, via pictorial representations, a destroyed past with only a blueprint for an unpredictable future. These provocative photographs show not only the dramatic effects of war, but also examine the toll taken on the urban identity of Beirut and question how a city can rise up to reclaim its life.