Lebanon 2026

Title: Don’t Get Me Wrong
Commissioner / Curator: Nada Ghandour
Exhibitor: Nabil Nahas

The work is a monumental installation by Nabil Nahas. Spanning forty-five linear metres within the Arsenale, the work consists of twenty-six acrylic-on-canvas panels, each three metres high, arranged as an enveloping frieze. Inspired by Persian miniatures, the installation offers an immersive experience that explores the relationship between humanity, nature, and the cosmos.

The compositions employ a complex visual language where geometric abstractions, rooted in Islamic and Western traditions, meet figuration and fractal patterns. These forms evoke the mathematical structure of the cosmic order, while repeating patterns and the spiral—a symbol drawn from Sufi mysticism—guide an inward journey. Central to the work is the tree motif, featuring species such as the cedar and olive to embody the tension between rootedness and transcendence.

The project reflects Lebanon’s plural identity and history as a crossroads of Greco-Roman, Judeo-Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic influences. The installation acts as a sensitive topography of the artist’s homeland.