The wistful daydreams of Lebanon's forgotten soldiers
An old militia barracks covered in old posters offers an intimate look at the hopes and desires of Lebanon's military men
Tanya Traboulsi
(Tanya Traboulsi)In 2010, Austrian-Lebanese photographer Tanya Traboulsi discovered remnants of an answer to that question in the form of tattered, washed-out photographs, posters, and magazine clippings on the walls of a warehouse in an industrial area of eastern Beirut.At the time, the building was in the process of being repurposed into an art gallery, and when Traboulsi visited there was already an exhibit on view. But it was the faded religious figures, the photos of old cars, and the pin-ups of women peeking out from behind the curated works that drew her attention.
(Tanya Traboulsi)The building, Traboulsi learned, was initially a wood factory. But after Lebanon's civil war erupted in 1975, the factory's production came to a halt and the building was abandoned. At some point during the brutal 15-year sectarian conflict, which killed an estimated 150,000 people, a Christian militia group took over the abandoned factory and used it to house its troops.The posters, Traboulsi realized, had once belonged to those soldiers — decorations to keep their spirits aloft during a long, low period of unrest. Time had turned the walls into a concrete canvas of dreams and memories.
(Tanya Traboulsi)Traboulsi gained access to the building and was able to photograph the space in its raw form, capturing what remained of this unique time capsule. Her resulting series, Collection 1983, presents a vivid portrait of the unknown soldiers from one side of the battle."These images caught my attention because they carried so much personal details and told stories without me knowing much about the [people] who put them there," Traboulsi said in an interview with The Week. "I could feel their presence and [wondered] about their stories: What life had they led before they became militia fighters? Who did they love? How did they feel — lonely, happy, euphoric, depressed, alone? What did they yearn for?"Many of the wall hangings focus on frivolity: material pleasures like cars, motorcycles, and vacation destinations, or beloved pastimes like boxing and music. Others express a deep yearning for home — portraits of family members alongside handwritten letters and crosses. A few of the images showed women in various states of undress.
(Tanya Traboulsi)"It just shows how human we all are, especially in stressful situations, when what really matters is stripped down to the most essential priorities and needs," Traboulsi said.Tour the evocative remnants of the daydreams of Lebanon's soldiers.
(Tanya Traboulsi)
(Tanya Traboulsi)
(Tanya Traboulsi)
(Tanya Traboulsi)**To see more of Tanya Traboulsi's work, visit her website.**
