The Colorful Trains of Lebanon - Exhibition Hall

The first railway in Lebanon was built during the Ottoman period and the first steam train departed from Beirut and passed across the Bekaa Valley towards Rayak station on 3 August 1895.It was the start of the golden age of rail transport in Lebanon.Unfortunately Lebanon's 408 km of railway, once connecting Beirut to Damascus and Haifa is currently no longer in operation. Today there is nothing left but dilapidated station buildings and rusted locomotives.

In 2016 I have had the chance to visit and photograph the remaining ruins of these wonderful train stations and locomotives from Tripoli to Beirut to Rayak. Yet I found these nostalgic photos a little bit dull and sad due to their grey and dark colors.I then decided to digitally color and revive them as much as my imagination could let me. I consequently ended up with this colorful collection of photo-graphic images leading up to this exhibition ‘‘The Colorful Trains of Lebanon’’.

I believe these vividly colorful and vibrant images make also reference to the social and cultural diversity of Lebanon, a country of shining example of tolerance and peaceful coexistence where I am honored and proud to serve as the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey since September 2015. In putting this exhibition together, I have also used poems from some Turkish and Lebanese poets who have made a mark with their words and touched our hearts.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to all who have encouraged and supported me in doing this exhibition, which will also be a bid farewell occasion for me as my tour of duty in Lebanon comes to an end.

The proceeds of the exhibition will be donated to the ‘Love and Hope Center’’ a small civil society organization in Tripoli,struggling with limited resources to provide music therapy for autistic children. Hope you will join us and enjoy the exhibition.

2 February 2018
Beirut
Çağatay Erciyes
Turkish Ambassador