The Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut, in collaboration with the Silk Museum in Bsous,
and under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Lebanon, the exhibition “Light and Dust,” is a site-specific artwork. It will welcome visitors.
from July 16 to 30, 2026, at the Silk Museum. The exhibition commemorates the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi,
offering a contemporary artistic experience that combines contemplation, perception, and memory.
Light and Dust… An Artistic Experience That Transcends Time
The “Light and Dust” exhibition begins with a question that is both simple and profound. It asks: What remains of a person’s life after eight centuries have passed?
This question leads visitors on a sensory journey that explores the traces left by memory,
through stone, light, silence, fabrics, and open spaces.
The work aims to create a personal experience for each visitor, where natural elements intertwine with lighting
and sound to form a space for contemplation beyond the traditional narrative of art exhibitions.
An artistic vision inspired by St. Francis of Assisi
The concept of “Light and Dust” is based on a vision developed by Dr. Angelo Gui. He is the director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut.
Sola Saad also contributed to the design of the exhibition space, while Dana Mikhael served as project manager.
The exhibition draws inspiration from the human values embodied by St. Francis of Assisi,
foremost among them humility, peace, hospitality, fragility, and respect for nature. Therefore,
These concepts are embodied through raw materials, engraved texts, soft sounds, and natural light. As a result, each visitor is offered the opportunity to have a unique experience.
“Light and Dust” Exhibition… A Project Born in Lebanon
“Light and Dust” is unique because it was designed specifically for Lebanon, drawing inspiration from the memory of the place
and its rich cultural diversity. Lebanese artists, artisans, musicians, and designers are collaborating on the project,
The works come together within a single artistic space. This space combines stone, wood, paper, iron, and untreated fabrics with light and sound.
At the same time, the exhibition’s visual language draws inspiration from the spiritual simplicity of Assisi and Vernà,
The exhibition also presents the humanistic vision that characterized the works of the Italian painter Giotto. All are displayed through a contemporary lens that harmonizes with the Lebanese context.
An Immersive Experience at the Silk Museum
The “Light and Dust” exhibition is spread across a series of spaces within the historic gardens and buildings of the Silk Museum.
Visitors walk among artistic stations that invite them to slow down and reflect. Importantly, the exhibition does this without imposing a specific path or a single interpretation of the work.
In this way, the exhibition becomes an open-ended experience. This allows each person to build their own relationship with light, matter, and silence.
in an encounter that brings together contemporary art, heritage, and the human dimension.
