At Cenquatre, in Paris, Walid Raad's perspective on the wounds of Lebanon

Walid Raad's exhibition at Centquatre in Paris, titled "Festival of (in)gratitude," explores the complex feelings of gratitude and ingratitude among the Lebanese people towards foreign powers involved in their country. These powers claim to bring peace and prosperity but often leave destruction in their wake. Raad, born in Lebanon in 1967 and now residing in the U.S., reflects on his personal history and the broader narrative of Lebanon's turmoil. Despite his established reputation and participation in major art events, he has been less visible in France since 2014. The exhibition is not a retrospective but a collection of works that connect historical events from 1982 to the present.