Al-Andalus: Photographs from the Collection of the Legado Andalusi Cultural Foundation

The exhibition opened on Tuesday April 17, 2018 at the Sheikh Zayed Gallery on LAU Beirut Campus.

The opening was attended by President Joseph Jabbra, the Spanish ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Jose Maria Ferrer, Dr. Elie Haddad, dean of the School of Architecture and Design, and a large number of guests, faculty and students. 

President Jabbra presented a summary of the continuous exchange and collaboration between various cultural institutions in Spain and the University, including previous exhibitions and lectures in collaboration with Casa arabe in Madrid.  Ambassador Ferrer gave an extended word on the historic connections between Spain and Western Asia, and the importance of cross cultural exchanges of this nature in promoting a culture of tolerance.

Dr. Abdallah Kahil, director of the Institute of Islamic Art & Architecture, further elaborated on the significance of the monuments and artifacts presented in the exhibition, noting their historic value and the role they play in the development of cultural heritage. He thanked in particular the Legado Andalusi for sending this exhibition abroad, as part of its continued commitment to cultural exchange and collaboration.

The exhibition also included posters prepared by students after their visit to Spain in the last two summers as a part of the International Studio, which covers a wide array of important cities as part of its educational itinerary.