Lebanese performance artist Rawya El Chab has debuted the second installment of her trilogy, "Crossing the Water," at The Brick in Brooklyn. The performance explores the collective trauma of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and her family's subsequent flight to the Ivory Coast, blending personal memory with political satire and mythology. By embodying various roles—from suspicious neighbors to puppet-like politicians—El Chab navigates the complexities of life under military occupation and the persistent feeling of surveillance.
This work is significant for its timely exploration of Lebanese history and identity amidst the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon. El Chab uses performance art as a tool for historical preservation and healing, drawing parallels between the censorship she experienced in 1980s Beirut and the fears currently felt by immigrant communities in New York. Her trilogy serves as a vital counter-narrative to the erasure of Lebanese stories, anchoring personal and national history through the lens of the Lebanese Left and Palestinian resistance.