EYE FOR AN EYE, 2009,Single Channel Video, 97.5 sec.

Thirty-six years ago, just days before its grand opening, the Hilton
Hotel in Beirut became the site of fighting in Lebanon’s Civil War.
Christian and Muslim militiamen fought room-to-room for control of
the building and other nearby hotels. Throughout the 15 years of bitter
conflict, its occupancy passed back and forth between opposing
factions. After the conflict the Hilton remained unused and was one of
many buildings that stood as a painful reminder of a dark past until it
was demolished on July 14th 2002.
When viewing Eye For An Eye, a circular chain composed of images
of the Beirut Hilton can be seen floating in a dark void. The collapse
of one building prompts another to follow suit endlessly, in a vicious
cycle, whilst a voice sings of a lost city in the background. Like so
many of the conflicts in and beyond the Middle East, the endless
destruction of each building personifies mankind’s actions of seeking
out revenge and personal justice, often unknowingly trapping
themselves and generations to come in a circle of violence. Importantly
though, Eye For An Eye does not seek to alienate or accuse one side
of a past conflict. It focuses on the present and future by using the
past as a means to articulate its message: one that is ultimately about
the futility of civil conflict and war, as well as the tragic loss of life and
security that follows.