Discover contemporary artworks of local Lebanese artists in Beirut

Visitors can now virtually walk through Arthaus’ charitable exhibition, “Dessine moi un cèdre,” in Beirut, Lebanon to see one-of-a-kind art. This exhibition, created in collaboration with Green Cedar Lebanon, debuts a collection of local artworks that highlight Lebanon’s national tree, the cedar tree.

 Located in the heart of Beirut’s bohemian district, this exhibit was originally only available to local visitors — but then XYZ Lebanon stepped in to bring it to a wider digital audience. Using Matterport products, XYZ Lebanon created a 3D digital twin of the exhibit to increase its reach and generate more funds for the charity.

We spoke with Joe Daniel Hadchity, CEO and founder of XYZ Lebanon, to learn more about the exhibit and their plans for future 3D captures.

Q: What inspired the 3D capture of this space?

Arthaus Beirut was hosting the launch of an exceptional charitable exhibition called “Dessine moi un cèdre” in tribute to the land of cedar, Lebanon. In this exhibition, Lebanese designers and creative artists created collective art depicting different portrayals of cedar, Lebanon’s national tree. This project was initiated by Green Cedar Lebanon to generate funds for the reforestation of the country's cedar forests.

Creating a virtual extension of this physical art exhibition helped it reach a wider audience and make a bigger impact, which was our way of contributing to this inspirational initiative.

Q: What are the “must-sees” you want visitors to explore and why?

All of the showcased paintings, sculptures, photographs, designs, jewelry, and works are must-sees. They were specially created for this occasion and all relate to the theme of the thousand-year-old cedar tree, a symbol of Lebanon's resilience.

Access to this exhibition was local and very limited due to several restrictions, but it was important to reach a wider and larger audience. To establish that, we created a virtual platform that gives international access to these art creations via an exact digital twin. Within the 3D model, users can navigate the space and explore all of its content without having to be physically present.

This is the closest experience to reality and it’s timeless, just like the cedar tree.

Q: What’s the one thing you want visitors to take away after exploring your 3D tour?

Through the practicality and comfort of our informative 3D tour, we hope visitors can dive into the heart of talented contemporary artists. We also hope visitors discover the beauty and natural harmony of the majestic cedar and our amazing Lebanon.

Q: What are the benefits of Matterport digital twins?

The immersive virtual experiences of Matterport digital twins offer a completely different, yet accurately realistic, way of visiting spaces for anyone — all from the comfort of any given place. They also give the opportunity to enjoy a uniquely informative buying experience for those considering a purchase.

Q: Do you have any plans to capture more 3D experiences?

Capturing 3D experiences is our daily bread! Virtual reality is the future, whether people currently realize it or not.

It’s one of the technologies with the highest projected potential for growth, and the market is more and more demanding the application of virtual strategies. Therefore, we are now more than ever committed to putting our non-stop effort and expertise into practice, leading the path with a pioneering spirit. 

Virtual reality is integrated into our present and, in the coming years, we want to make sure to be part of those who will shape the future.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

We would just like to thank Matterport for giving us the opportunity to put forward our work and message.