Sursock Museum

Coordinates: 33°53′34.59″N 35°30′58.42″E / 33.8929417°N 35.5162278°E

Sursock Museum in Beirut.
The marble stairs of the Museum.

Sursock Museum, which is officially known as Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum, is a modern and contemporary art museum in Beirut, Lebanon. It is located in the historic street known as Rue Sursock in the Achrafieh district of Beirut. The street is home to other mansions that were built in the 19th century by Beirut's most prominent families such as the Sursocks and the Bustroses.

History

The Sursock Museum is a great example of Lebanese architecture, which has Italianate, specifically Venetian, and Ottoman architectural influences. The wealthy Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock, a member of one of Beirut's most prominent aristocratic families, built the museum as a private villa in 1912. Nicolas Sursock who died in 1952, bequeathed his villa to the city of Beirut.[1] According to his will, the villa was transformed into a museum.[2]

The Museum opened its doors in 1961 with an exhibit of works of contemporary Lebanese artists, setting a precedent for cultural events in Beirut.[3] Since then, more than a hundred exhibitions have been held, displaying the works of both Lebanese and international artists. In addition to modern art, the museum's permanent collection includes Japanese engravings and Islamic art.[4]

Expansion

The new extension of the museum consists of four new underground floors beneath the current garden at a cost of 12 million dollars (US).[5] French architect, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, and Lebanese architect, Jacques Abou Khaled, are leading the expansion project.[6] The expansion project will increase the museum’s surface from 1,500 square meters to 8,500 square meters, and include additional exhibition rooms, a library, a bookshop, and an auditorium.[7] The museum is expected to reopen its doors on October 1, 2015.

Museum collection

The museum collection consists of 5,000 pieces, such as paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glassware, and iconography, dating from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.[5] The following is a list of Lebanese and international artists whose work is in the Museum’s permanent collection:
  • Paul Guiragossian
  • Georges Guv
  • John Haddian
  • Zavan Haditzian
  • Madi Hussein
  • Halim Jurdak
  • Elie Kanaan
  • Viola Kassab

  • Stelio Scamanga
  • Juliana Seraphim
  • H. Torrossian
  • Anita Toutikian
  • Sophie Yaramian
  • Khalil Zgaib
  • Alain Le Yaouanc

See also

References

  1. ↑ Daratalfunun.org
  2. ↑ Guides.hotelbook.com, Events Guide: Sursock Museum (Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon)
  3. ↑ Galleries Beirut, Sursock museum, Georges Guv Aref Rayess, John Haddian, Levon Moumjian. Madi Hussein
  4. ↑ Lebanon-tourism.gov.lb
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Annahar.com
  6. ↑ Jadesigns-architects.com
  7. ↑ http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/Jul/14/Mitri-presents-project-to-expand-Sursock-

External links