A Site-Specific Installation Commemorating the Eighth Centenary of the Death of Saint Francis of Assisi
The Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut, in collaboration with the Silk Museum of Bsous and under the Patronage of the Embassy of Italy in Lebanon, is pleased to announce the opening of Light and Dust, a site-specific contemporary art installation created especially for Lebanon.
📍 Silk Museum of Bsous, Lebanon
📅 16–30 July 2026
Marking 800 years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, Light and Dust offers visitors an immersive journey through light, sound, space and silence, transforming the historic gardens and interiors of the Silk Museum into a place for reflection, contemplation and discovery.
Conceived by Dr Angelo Gioè, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut, with spatial development by Soula Saad and project management by Dana Mikhail, the installation explores themes inspired by the enduring legacy of Saint Francis—humility, peace, hospitality, fragility and humanity's relationship with creation—through contemporary artistic expression.
Created in collaboration with Lebanese artists, artisans, musicians and designers, the installation brings together stone, wood, iron, paper, natural fabrics, light and sound to create a unique sensory experience rooted in both memory and place.
Inspired by the spiritual landscapes of Assisi and La Verna, while resonating deeply with Lebanon's own history, resilience and cultural richness, Light and Dust invites each visitor to embark on a personal journey where every step, every shadow and every silence becomes part of the experience.
Visitors are invited to explore the installation from 16 to 30 July 2026 at the Silk Museum of Bsous, where contemporary art and heritage come together in a powerful tribute to one of history's most enduring spiritual figures.
