Material Stories
Starting Thursday 21 May, the Sursock Museum offers weekly guided tours of the new exhibition Material Stories, co-curated with the Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA).
Conceived in the context of the 65th anniversary of the Sursock Museum, this exhibition highlights the often-overlooked field of conservation-restoration by presenting ten case studies from the art collections of the Sursock Museum and the Ministry of Culture, placed under the care of BeMA. It pays tribute to conservator-restorers, the “invisible hands” who work behind the scenes to safeguard Lebanon’s artistic heritage for future generations.
The exhibition unfolds in two sections. The first considers the following questions: How is the condition of an artwork assessed? What methods enable the identification of its alterations and the agents responsible for its deterioration? The second section reflects on the rationale behind conservation interventions: Should restoration seek to recover an original state, or preserve the traces that bear witness to a work’s history? These decisions emerge from a delicate balance between scientific rigor and interpretative judgment, where each intervention becomes an act of safeguarding and transmission, carrying forward the narratives entrusted to future generations.
Co-curated by Karina El Helou and Clémence Cottard Hachem.
In collaboration with the conservators-restoters: Kerstin Khalifé, Véronique Sorano, Naya Abou Rizk, Caroline Gelot, Ramia Obeid, Nathalie Hanna, Nayirie Keuteklian, Karl Kassouf, Ahmad Ghaddar.
The 65 years of the Sursock Museum
Established in 1961, the Sursock Museum is a private institution with a public mission dedicated to modern and contemporary art in Beirut. As a public platform and research centre, it advances an interdisciplinary and accessible programme; exhibitions, symposia, and publications. Through its exhibitions and scholarly mediation, the Museum preserves and shares the cultural memory of the city and the country.
The Sursock Museum houses a permanent collection of 1,600 works and objects. The modern and contemporary art collection spans the late nineteenth century to the early 2000s. The Museum’s conservation studio is a space for learning, scientific research, and practical work in conservation and exhibition preparation.
About BeMA
The Beirut Museum of Art (BeMA) is a platform dedicated to the transformative power of culture and creativity. With the Lebanese Ministry of Culture Collection under its care, and at the core of its practices, BeMA preserves, produces, and promotes Lebanese and regional art. It fosters connections through science, creative practices, heritage, identity and knowledge. While construction of a dedicated building is underway, BeMA continues to advance decentralization, cultural expertise, professional training, engagement, and collaboration through its Beyond the Walls programs. The program and exhibition presented showcase newly restored artworks from the Ministry of Culture Collection— offering spaces where a new generation can inhabit their heritage, reimagine its meanings, and explore the evolving possibilities of what a museum can be.
Free guided tours of the exhibition will begin on Saturday 23 May, and will be held every Saturday at 3:00 PM in both Arabic and English.
Advance booking is required, except for the first guided tour taking place on Thursday May 21.
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In collaboration with
