Cynthia Antossian (Grade 12LS – AGBU Tarouhy-Hovagimian Sec. School)
Teacher: Mrs. Shoghig Darakjian
On Friday, the 17th of November, Mrs. Shoghig Darakdjian took us, the 12th grade students, on a wonderful field trip to ‘Sursock Museum’.
“Sursock Museum”, officially known as the “Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum”, is a modern and contemporary art museum in Beirut, Lebanon. It is located in the historic Sursock Street in the Achrafieh district of Beirut.
The wealthy and prominent Beirut aristocrat Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock built the private villa that now houses the museum in 1912. The museum opened its doors in 1961 with an exhibit of works of contemporary Lebanese artists, directed by Ibrahim M. Beyhum, and it set a precedent for cultural events in Beirut. The museum reopened its doors on October 8, 2015, after renovation.
The Sursock Museum building exemplifies Lebanese architecture with its Italianate, specifically Venetian, and Ottoman architectural influences. More than a hundred exhibitions have been held at the museum displays, including works of Lebanese and international artists. The museum’s permanent collection includes modern art, Japanese engravings and Islamic art. Temporary exhibits focus on contemporary Lebanese art. The museum collection consists of over 800 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and graphic arts from the 19th and 20th centuries.
During the tour, we visited many sections and saw the works of well-known as well as not well-known artists, and the tour guides gave us all the necessary information about the artists and their works.
I would like to thank, on behalf of my class, Mrs. Shoghig for taking us on this fabulous trip to this exquisite place.
