An exhibition of photojournalistic images by Paul
Blackmore covers the rebirth of Beirut, the
capital of Lebanon,
after its Civil War ended in 1990, and its latest threats.
Paul Blackmore is one of a new generation of
photojournalists whose coherent and enduring observations function as both records
of social change and fine-art images. His latest exhibition ‘New Beirut -
Photographs by Paul Blackmore’ at the Edmund Pearce Gallery covers the rebirth of
Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, in the years after its
civil war ended in 1990. The exhibition runs from September 11 to October 5.
The
Lebanese Civil War lasted from 1975-1990. During these years Beirut was synonymous with death, violence
and destruction. When the fighting ended there were only ruins left. The
Lebanese capital, once known as “the Paris of
the Middle East”, had been known for its
tolerance and culture, and for being a beautiful and cosmopolitan city, but it changed
into a hell on earth. One third of the population fled and hundreds of
thousands of residents were killed.
In the decade following peace, the
one-and-a-half million residents of Beirut
worked hard on rebuilding the city. Twelve years later, in 2002 and then again
in 2007, Blackmore photographed a city which had literally risen from the
ashes. Even the New York Times in 2012 had hailed Beirut as a haven amid turmoil. Recently
violence has spread across the border from Syria
with a bomb attack in southern Beirut
- a Shi'ite district and stronghold of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah.
New Beruit No. 9. Paul Blackmore has tracked how Beirut recovered from civil war.
Paul
Blackmore is an international award-winning photographer who is currently based
in Sydney. As a
photographer he has always been a champion of human rights, both in Australia and
overseas. His numerous multi-award winning photo essays and books show his commitment
to the cause. In 1999 he emigrated to Paris,
where he worked for European and Australian periodicals. Seven years ago he
returned to his home city.
This photo essay continues to be exhibited and sold
around the world and The New York Magazine bought an image from it last May. ‘New
Beirut - Photographs by Paul Blackmore’ was one
of the featured exhibitions of the 2013 Head On Photo Festival in Sydney. Paul Blackmore
has gained prominence through his exhibitions in the US,
France and Australia. He
is a highly awarded and respected internationally photographer and he’s
published two books.
‘New Beirut – Photographs by
Paul Blackmore’ is showing at the Edmund Pearce Gallery, level 2, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street (cnr Flinders Lane),
Melbourne CBD. The gallery is open from Wednesdays through to Saturdays from
11am to 5pm and the exhibition is free. See www.edmundpearce.com.au
Paul Blackmore's exhibition New Beirut covers the re-birth of the capital of Lebanon following the civil war which ended in 1990.
