A leafy theater for exploring borders

BEIRUT — A unique performance art event took place in Horsh Beirut, turning the pine forest into a “leafy theater” for a day. The event, organized by the Antakya Performance Collective (APC) in collaboration with the local NGO Nahnoo, aimed to explore and highlight the concept of borders in various forms—ethnic, personal, and physical.

Kenan Nuraydin from APC led one of the key performances, involving a symbolic use of a water hose stretched out on the grass to delineate borders. As he connected the hose to form a triangle, he repeatedly tied cable ties, mimicking the boundaries that separate communities. This act drew a mixed crowd, including curious onlookers and children who were visibly moved by the dramatic conclusion where Nuraydin collapsed, exclaiming, “I am from the Earth.”

The event featured other poignant performances, including Abdulnur Akyuz’s act where he depicted his life journey through different countries by unraveling a shawl that eventually ensnared him. His message was clear: borders, while sometimes necessary, often restrict freedom and understanding among people.

Nahnoo has been actively campaigning for the accessibility of public spaces like Horsh Beirut, which is divided by a fence that symbolizes the division between the surrounding neighborhoods of different sects. This performance art event was part of their broader mission to promote social cohesion and the free movement of people within public spaces​.