Lebanese artist Hayat Nazer creates a symbol of hope from August 4 Beirut blast debris
25-November-2020

Hayat Nazer, the renowned Lebanese, has created a masterpiece of hope using nothing but blast debris. On the evening of August 4, 2020, Lebanon's capital Beirut was swept off its feet with a series of blasts that took place due to a huge amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Beirut port. Hundreds of citizens lost their lives while thousands were left severely injured.

Now, Hayat Nazer has created a symbol of hope in the memory of lost ones. Standing tall (nearly three metres), with an arm raised high and windswept hair, and a face that's severely scarred from the blast, Hayat�s symbol of hope is a woman. A broken clock is placed carefully close to her feet, reading with 6:08 PM, the exact time when the deadly blast destroyed the entire Beirut port and surroundings.

The best part of this unnamed statue is that it is made using broken glass and materials that belonged to the blast victims' home. The art symbolises Beirut�s hope of rising from the rubble, with the sculpture looking strong and hopeful.

Hayat also volunteered to help clean up houses and streets of the city. She would help cleanup the city during the daytime and at nights, and used to build the sculpture with broken glass and twisted metal pieces she had collected. It took her around two months to complete the statue; she has decided to not name her work because she wanted the public to do so.

Lebanese artist Hayat Nazer creates a symbol of hope from August 4 Beirut blast debrisPhoto courtesy: Hayat Nazer FB

Apparently, this is not Hayat�s first time at converting debris into art. She has done some amazing works, which include a model of the mythological Phoenix, which was also created with pieces of burnt tents. She also made a heart-shaped sculpture, using stones and empty teargas canisters that were collected from clashes between protesters and security forces.