The clenched fist features the Arabic word “Thawra,” meaning revolution. Located in Martyrs’ Square, Beirut, the sculpture is a permanent fixture at a gathering site for various protests. It symbolizes unity and resistance, having been created by artist Tarek Chehab during the 2019 revolution against government corruption in Lebanon. Journalist Carla Henoud called it “a cry, a promise, and a landmark.” During the 2024 war on Lebanon, internally displaced people slept in Martyrs’ Square, highlighting national insecurity but also government inaction and the inaccessibility of shelters that only accepted Lebanese citizens—disproportionately affecting migrant workers and Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Its presence in Winnipeg’s Exchange District serves as a visual symbol of solidarity, anti-racism, and anti-fascism. Being installed downtown among political and cultural spaces that attract and divide the community mirrors its existence in Lebanon, beaming with both hope and dissonance, while offering intimate recognition to Arabic speakers.

Thawra, 2025. PLATFORM Member’s Lightbox: 22×22, January 23-March 21, 2026, Lights on the Exchange (24 installations, Winnipeg).