“Forgotten Heritage. Polish Conservators in Lebanon”

An exhibition and conference occasioned by the 10th anniversary of Polish conservation Mission in Lebanon were held in the French Institute in Beirut.

Conservators from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, assisted by archaeologists from the PCMA, brought to light and rescued from oblivion stunning wall paintings from medieval churches in Northern Lebanon – in Kaftoun, Maad, Kfar Helda and Amioun, as well as in Beirut. Their achievements have contributed to our knowledge of art and church architecture of Christian Near East.

The event, entitled “Forgotten Heritage. Polish Conservators in Lebanon”, was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and the University of Warsaw. It was held under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Culture of Lebanon Mr. Raymond Araygi.

One of the three conference presentations was by prof. Tomasz Waliszewski of the PCMA: „Entre Chhim et Jiyeh. Conservateurs polonais dans le contexte des projets archeologiques polono-libanais (1996–2014)”. The exhibition can be seen in the French Institute in Beirut until it is removed to a permanent home by the church in Kaftoun.

To read up on the exhibition and conference, go to: www.ifporient.org or www.bejrut.msz.gov.pl
For more information on the conservation of the Kaftoun church, see the PCMA Newsletter.