Doha: Al Markhiya Gallery is set to unveil a captivating art exhibition titled "When Beirut Was a Cinema" by renowned painter Yervant Hawarian on Tuesday. The exhibition, a collaboration with the Daloul Art Forum, will be hosted at Fire Station: Artists in Residence and will be open to the public for three weeks.

According to Qatar News Agency, the exhibition will feature 15 evocative paintings that delve into a significant chapter of Beirut's cultural history. These artworks reimagine various cinemas and theaters that were once iconic landmarks in the city's vibrant public sphere. Among the highlighted venues are Cinema Royal, Piccadilly, Rialto, Byblos, Cristal, Hollywood, the Grand Theater, and the National Theater.

The exhibition aims to transport visitors back to a time when cinema in Beirut extended beyond the confines of theaters. It began in the bustling streets, with glowing marquees, grand hand-painted film posters, and the lively atmosphere of buses, taxis, and cafes filled with eager crowds. Cinema was intricately woven into the city's architecture, pulse, and public life.

Hawarian's work is not just a nostalgic portrayal of old Beirut; it is a deeply personal narrative drawn from his own experiences. Arriving in Beirut in the early 1960s, Hawarian started his career at the age of fifteen as a cinema poster painter, crafting impressive film posters for theaters across Lebanon. By the early 1970s, he expanded his expertise into cinema operations, most notably at Cinema Royal, where his studio was located.