Pine Symbolism Anchors Lebanon-Italy Cultural Exhibition Through Art, Archaeology, and Ecology

Lebanon’s Minister of Culture Ghassan Salamé and Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Marcelli toured the “Echoes of Existence” exhibition, hosted by the Ministry of Culture and initiated by the Italian Embassy at the Nihad al-Said Cultural Pavilion within the National Museum. The exhibition positions the pine tree as a deeply rooted common symbol in both Italy and Lebanon, featuring works by Enzo Cucchi — one of Italy’s most prominent artists — and Gilbert El-Halabi, a Lebanese-Italian artist based in Rome for 23 years, alongside a group of contemporary Lebanese artists. It also highlights the broader artistic landscape of Lebanese creators and functions as a bridge connecting cultures, histories, and nations.

The Pine as Shared Cultural Anchor

Marcelli described the exhibition as “a common denominator between Italy and Lebanon — a cultural memory and a platform to strengthen an established partnership dedicated to protecting our shared Mediterranean natural and cultural heritage.” He emphasized that Italy’s cultural cooperation with Lebanon is a longstanding tradition the embassy intends to continue, adding: “A documentary film is forthcoming, including an interview with Minister Salamé, which will outline the nature of our cultural collaboration over recent years and the past decades.”

Archaeological and Institutional Collaboration

The ambassador noted multiple ongoing joint projects, citing the National Museum, Sursock Museum, and the Qadisha Valley. He confirmed that four Italian archaeological missions are currently active across Lebanon — from the north in the Koura region to the south in Tyre. He acknowledged that one mission remains temporarily suspended but affirmed Italy’s intention to reactivate it “as soon as conditions allow.”

Expanding Formal Cultural Agreements

Salamé affirmed that the exhibition represents “one symbol among many of the expanding and renewing artistic cooperation between Italy and Lebanon,” spanning official cultural sectors, sculpture, and archaeology. He stated that “a comprehensive agreement covering archaeology, arts, and training is expected to be finalized early next year,” underscoring consistent full support from Italian partners.

Three-Tiered Artistic Narrative

The exhibition unfolds across three levels. On the upper floor of the Nihad al-Said Cultural Pavilion, Enzo Cucchi’s impactful wall installation resembles a visual manuscript composed of preliminary sketches and fragments of works, flanked by two sculptures. Opposite this stands El-Halabi’s large-scale contemplative painting “Sannin,” executed in Rome at Palazzo Nardini. Adjacent to it rests a circular “tondo” painting three meters in diameter, functioning as a mirror reflecting the sky — where pine trees appear.

On the lower floor, El-Halabi’s “pine forest” unfolds across multiple canvases of varying dimensions, aligned side-by-side along a single wall to form a landscape with its own rhythmic cadence, oscillating between gesture and memory. This gestural language finds resonance in Cucchi’s drawings, where the pine emerges through swift, almost archaic lines — primordial marks fluidly merging drawing and painting. Along the same walls, a historical dialogue unfolds through works by contemporary Lebanese artists Omar Onsi, Moustafa Farroukh, César Gemayel, and Aref el-Rayess, all of whom depicted pines within their landscapes. Their inclusion reveals deeper roots of pine motifs in Lebanese art history, forging a bridge between modern and contemporary interpretations of landscape, identity, and memory. This section was developed through research conducted by Saleh Barakat.

Environmental Dimension by Carabinieri Forestry Units

The exhibition extends into the lower level (–2) with a presentation by the Command of the Carabinieri Forestry, Environmental and Agri-Food Units, adding an ecological dimension. Ten wooden sculptures — each carved from a different native Italian tree species — stand as guardians of living heritage. Informative panels nearby detail the Carabinieri’s vital role in forest conservation, biodiversity protection, and safeguarding natural ecosystems, stressing the urgent need to preserve our shared environmental heritage.

“Echoes of Existence” remains open at the Nihad al-Said Cultural Pavilion — National Museum in Beirut until Wednesday, 21 October 2026, welcoming visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.