The opening will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Rebirth Beirut Space, 1st Floor, Wakf Al Roum Building, Gouraud Street, Gemmayze. The exhibition will run until February 24, 2026, and will be open daily from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, except Sundays.
Bringing together 40 new paintings created between 2024 and 2025, “Forest of Freedom” invites viewers into a deeply emotional landscape where color transcends pigment to become an act of expression and renewal. Hakim’s canvases move with the rhythm of time, reflecting a homeland suspended between pain and hope. He does not paint what he merely sees, but what he lives, breathes, and believes transforming personal and collective memory into powerful visual narratives.
The foundation of his work emerges from two essential sources: nature, as sanctuary and space of inner reconciliation, and the human form, elevated beyond context into a universal symbol of truth and freedom. Through layered textures, bold gestures, and vibrant chromatic intensity, Hakim creates compositions that resonate with sincerity and lived experience.
With a career spanning over five decades, Maroun Hakim remains one of the leading figures of Lebanese contemporary art. A painter and sculptor, and former professor at the Lebanese University’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, he has contributed significantly to shaping Lebanon’s artistic and cultural landscape.
“Forest of Freedom” stands as an open invitation to reflect on art’s enduring capacity to generate beauty from the heart of suffering and to rediscover freedom through color.
“At Rebirth Beirut, we believe that art is a pillar of resilience. ‘Forest of Freedom’ embodies the spirit of renewal that Lebanon so deeply needs today.” Gaby Fernaine, Founder & President added.
Part of the proceeds from this exhibition will support the ongoing initiatives of Rebirth Beirut, particularly its infrastructure projects dedicated to restoring and maintaining Beirut’s street lighting.