Hyphen Islam-Christianity
Montréal 45° 30' 11.46" N, 73° 34' 11.30" W Arts Documentary Visual Arts
Hyphen Islam-Christianity is a multidisciplinary project which voyages into the heart of Lebanon but also into human memory of sharing and diversity.
About[edit]
Imagine a young country where multiculturalism is part of the mental landscape and where differences are life enriching. Imagine a much older country on the other side of the planet where 19 religious communities are at home on a tiny territory. The link between these two countries is “Hyphen Islam-Christianity”, a multidisciplinary project which voyages into the heart of Lebanon but also into human memory of sharing and diversity.
An exhibition, a documentary and a 700-page book, Hyphen Islam-Christianity is a lively portrait of largely unknown landscapes, personalities and practices. Lebanon is a perfect example that illustrates the hyphen between two major religions because in spite of its small size and frequent inter religious clashes, the common aspects and the bridging points between religions do exist. With religious labels removed, we can see people living together in many villages where mosques and churches are built alongside each other.
Hyphen Islam-Christianity is an innovative project by Nada Raphael that reaches out to meet people from all traditions and all places with a more human dimension of the dialogue between Islam and Christianity. The project acts as a hyphen, bringing together two religions, two cultures, respecting each other’s differences and contributions.
Nada Raphael is the photographer and producer of Hyphen Islam-Christianity. She studied in Beirut and Montreal and received a Bachelor’s degrees in audio-visual studies, in communication and in journalism. She has variously worked as a photographer, a camera woman, a journalist, a theater director and a project manager.
Joelle Sfeir is in charge of communications in Montreal. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Environment and Land Management in Lebanon and worked on her skills as a writer, in PR, as a translator and a journalist.