ruins and progress - MMXX pavilion by André Chami at Beirut Digital District

MMXX pavilion questions the relation between ruins and progress and the radiant squares of our civilisations

After having followed smartESA’s accelerator programme in Beirut to develop his activities between Europe and the Middle East, Versailles-based cultural entrepreneur and artist André Chami, alongside art consultant Christiane Ashkar, launched MMXX pavilion - a public art programme with a debut exhibition at the Beirut Digital District from the 20th -25th of September on technique and civilisation.

MMXX pavilion curator André Chami before a private visit of the show

MMXX pavilion is a public art initiative that offers unique out-of-museum exhibition formats where invited artists focus on integrating the context of a space within their work.

In conjunction with the 2019 Beirut Art Fair, André Chami curated MMXX pavilion at the Beirut Digital District on Damascus street, a zone that has been active since the beginning of mankind with guest artists Edgar Sarin and Sara Boy.

Edgar Sarin, represented by the Parisian gallery Michel Rein showcased new in-situ pieces produced on the BDD's rooftop following on from his work on technique. Singer-songwriter Sara Boy also made an appearance during the pavilion's opening, performing ambient storytellings.

French artist Edgar Sarin during his stay in Beirut

“vers l’exactitude du nuage” a new group of in-situ sculptures by French artist Edgar Sarin.

vers l'exactitude du nuage 3, Edgar Sarin

vers l'exactitude du nuage 2, Edgar Sarin

variation sur celui du cone de glace, Edgar Sarin 2019

About MMXX

MMXX pavilion questions a territory’s capacity to generate progress.
2020 was supposed to mark the first year of the Universal Exhibition in the Arab World, it has now been postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
By choosing to write 2020 in roman letters, MMXX pavilion questions the transition of innovation centres in the Latin and Arab world in their quest for progress.
From the port of Beirut up to Damascus street lies a zone that has been active since the beginning of mankind and that knows significant development projects such as the Beirut Digital District.
MMXX is a pavilion curated by André Chami that questions progress in different value systems through the lens of technique.
MMXX pavilion draws parallels between Versailles, the city of the Sun King and the Levant region.

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