A new stainless steel sculpture titled "SAWA" (2026) by father-son artist duo Pierre and Cedric Koukjian has been installed on the exterior of Beit Beirut, a museum and cultural center in the Lebanese capital. The building, located along the former Green Line that divided the city during the Lebanese Civil War, still bears visible scars from the conflict. The sculpture, whose name means "together" in Arabic, is made from hand-hammered stainless steel and is designed to reflect light and the surrounding landscape, serving as a metaphor for hope and unity.
This installation matters because it transforms a site of historical trauma into a beacon of cultural exchange and collective memory. By placing a contemporary public artwork on a building that physically embodies the wounds of war, the Koukjians reinforce the museum's mission of preserving history while encouraging dialogue about Beirut's future. The work also signals a growing presence of public art in Lebanon, following the duo's earlier monumental sculpture "Chaînes de Lumière" installed in Bikfaya last year, and underscores the power of art to foster resilience and connection in a post-conflict society.