“The support we got from the international art scene helped us continue,” says Joumana Asseily, founder of Marfa Projects, a gallery and project space nestled between customs offices in the Beirut port area.
Listen to the latest podcast on the Beirut blast here
The gallery represents some of the city's leading artists, but it was completely demolished by the August 4 blast. Thankfully for Asseily and her team, the space was closed on that deadly afternoon, because of the pandemic. “I went in the next day to check on our neighbours. There was this abnormal heat. I felt like I was in a movie,” she recalls.
A year on, she is still coming to terms with the damage. “I have this huge incomprehension for what has happened, which turns to rage. I can’t stop thinking of the people who lost their lives, their homes, their jobs or parts of their bodies.”
But closing down or relocating was not an option. “I knew I wanted to be back in the port and to continue what I’d started with Marfa,” says Asseily, who spent weeks clearing debris from the space. “It took months to find the right moment to restart. It helped that the entire art world had closed, too, because of the pandemic.”
Rebuilding under Lebanon’s economic crisis has presented enormous challenges for this independent gallery. “We had no support from the government or local bodies." She says restrictions on movement and the value of the Lebanese currency also delayed their efforts. "Prices were fluctuating all the time, and we had to buy all our equipment from scratch."
The country can’t breathe without its cultural outlets
Joumana Asseily,
founder of Marfa Projects
Then, other galleries overseas reached out to support. Wrong Marfa, a gallery in Texas (not related), donated 10 per cent of proceeds from one of its sales to help rebuild the space. “I used the money to support the artists,” says Asseily. In January, a group of 20 international galleries invited Marfa to be part of a collective exhibition project. “I was so touched that they invited me – I was among the youngest gallerists there.”
This prompted the gallery to reopen in May, with the group exhibition Water, which was part of the committee’s Galleries Curate: RHE joint programme of exhibitions. Among the works in the show was Vartan Avakian's Short Wave, Long Wave, a 2010 film about the Beirut port, which was presented in an underground parking space adjacent to the gallery.
What moved Asseily most was the reaction from locals to Marfa’s reopening. “One visitor, a collector, told me that she felt alive again,” she says. “The people working in the customs offices around us came and encouraged us. They wanted us to bring the area back to life. We also got support from the bakery around the corner.”
These experiences, Asseily says, allow her to hold on to her dream of running this port venue. “It was so heartwarming; it made me want to continue.”
Today, her venture faces new challenges linked to Lebanon’s economic and political crisis. The gallery was forced to close during Eid Al Adha, owing to electricity shortages. “We’re living day by day,” she says.
Asseily is also struggling to support her artists. “For artists, the biggest challenge today is finding production material. Also, with the fuel crisis, they can’t travel far.”
Nonetheless, the gallery plans to still take part in the international art fairs circuit. Asseily is currently preparing for a solo presentation of new work by Avakian for Art Basel, as well as participations for Frieze London and Fiac, the contemporary art fair held in Paris. In October, she will launch a solo show at Marfa Projects for Stephanie Saade, an artist who left Beirut after the blast.
Asseily insists she will stay in the city. “Unless there’s no internet and we’re cut out from the world, I won’t be leaving Beirut. The country can’t breathe without its cultural outlets. If this dies, then what’s left?”
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Autumn international scores
Saturday, November 24
Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
