A young Lebanese artist is trying to enter the Guinness World Records by drawing the Lebanese flag with chalk in downtown Beirut, covering an area of 200 square meters. This initiative aims to convey a message of "hope" for his country, which is currently engulfed in an unprecedented economic and social crisis.
Giovanni Basil, 24, explained to Agence France-Presse from Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut that the idea for this project came to him by chance after he learned online about a previous record set by someone from Uruguay who drew his country's flag with chalk over 168 square meters.
Basil is utilizing three thousand chalks in the three colors that make up the Lebanese flag: red, white, and green. He began this work on Saturday and expects to finish it by Sunday, adhering to the conditions set by Guinness World Records, which also include capturing images of the artwork with drones to ensure it meets the required specifications.
"I wanted the record to emerge from this historic square in downtown Beirut," he stated, adding, "I am proud of what I am doing despite everything the country is going through." He explained, "I am trying to be a face of hope for all Lebanese," amid the suffocating economic crisis affecting various aspects of life in the country.
Since the summer of 2019, Lebanon has faced an unprecedented economic collapse considered one of the worst in the world since the mid-19th century, according to the World Bank. More than half of the population now lives below the poverty line, and the Lebanese pound has lost over 90% of its value against the dollar.
The Lebanese artist dedicated this work to the victims of the Beirut port explosion, which occurred less than two weeks before the first anniversary of the tragedy that resulted in over two hundred deaths, thousands of injuries, and extensive destruction in the Lebanese capital, triggering political earthquakes in the country whose repercussions are still felt today.
In recent years, Lebanon has seen numerous attempts to enter the Guinness World Records with various records, including the largest kebab, the widest circle for the Lebanese folk dance, and the largest plate of hummus or tabbouleh.
