Lebanese artist Hayat Nazer designs ‘Civil Defence Christmas Tree’ in honour of bravehearts

Syed Shayaan Bakht, Gulf Today

Prominent Lebanese artist Hayat Nazer has once again designed something unique that strikes a chord in the aftermath of the Beirut Port blast.

This time, the versatile artist has come up with the idea of a Christmas tree near the site of the blast.

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Well this is not the usual tree we see in every corner of the city during Christmas. This tree is called the Lebanese #CivilDefenceChristmasTree, made to honour the brave personnel who put their lives at risk for the Lebanese people. 

Hayat took to her Instagram account to explain about the tree. She said, “I found this a good opportunity to explain the truth and cause behind this #CivilDefenceChristmasTree... They need our support, new equipment and at least some love and encouragement after all they’ve dedicated to save our lives.

 The Christmas tree made by the Lebanese artist to pay tribute to those who died in the Beirut Port explosion. AFP

“Sometimes an act of kindness is needed in such circumstances. I personally lost trust in many governmental institutions in Lebanon, and I consider these volunteering heroes (in addition to other frontline workers such as doctors and nurses) to be the only ones I wish to support and trust my life with...

“While our politicians run away from their responsibilities, they run into fires and danger to save us! My utmost love and respect to the heroes."

Members of the Lebanese Civil Defence erected the tree. It has been decorated with uniforms of firefighters as a way to pay tribute to colleagues who were killed in the Aug.4 port explosion.

 A man arranges a uniform on a Christmas tree made by the Lebanese artist. AFP

Hayat received international attention for her artwork of a statue of a woman made out of shards of glass, rubble, and a broken clock marking the time 6:08pm, the moment the mega explosion took place.

The statue symbolises the city’s hopes of rising from the rubble.

The explosion killed 200 people and injured over 6,000.

Hayat was born in 1987 in the city of Tripoli, Lebanon.

She got her degree in designing from the Lebanese American University — Beirut.

She also studied Marketing Communications from the University of Westminster in London.

Hayat had previously worked with the United Nations until she quit her job to become a full-time artist.