# George Yammine's 'Little Boy' Exhibition Explores Childhood and War Lebanese artist George Yammine uses bullet remnants and toys to reflect on conflict. - **Source:** [Asharq Al-Awsat](https://aawsat.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/aa43fbe7-d309-4810-b0ae-e537fe9368eb ## Artistic Reflection on War Artist George Yammine explores the remnants of the Lebanese Civil War in his exhibition titled 'Little Boy'. Hosted at Beirut's Dhaffaf Gallery and organized by Tanit Gallery, the project examines childhood memories. Yammine transforms discarded bullet casings into subjects of artistic inquiry, reflecting on a past that continues to shape his present. ## Aestheticizing Violent Objects Yammine treats deformed bullet casings with a tenderness usually reserved for precious jewelry. By photographing these projectiles in extreme close-up, he highlights their unique curves and dents. This artistic choice forces viewers to confront the inherent tension between the object's violent origin and its newfound aesthetic value as a sculptural form. ## Memory and Material History The exhibition presents these bullets as artifacts from a recent history that remains deeply embedded in the collective memory. Yammine notes that while the metal retains the physical traces of impact, the names of those affected by these projectiles remain absent. This creates a haunting, complex experience for the gallery visitor. ## Cycles of Recurring Violence Yammine initially hoped that documenting these objects would bring him peace. However, the resurgence of violence in Lebanon forced him to revisit these memories. Observing children playing with war debris in modern footage deeply affected him, highlighting the tragic ability of humans to normalize environments that are inherently dangerous and destructive. ## Integration of Lego Toys The artist incorporates Lego trucks, plastic shovels, and colorful building blocks into his compositions alongside the ammunition. This juxtaposition creates a dry, unsettling humor. The sight of a toy truck transporting heavy, lethal shells forces the viewer to reconcile the innocence of play with the grim reality of the objects depicted. ## Deconstruction of Childhood Play Building and dismantling structures is a fundamental part of childhood development and play. By placing bullets among the blocks, Yammine disrupts this narrative. Outside the frame, these materials represent destroyed homes and lost lives, suggesting that no amount of creative reconstruction can truly restore what was lost during the conflict years. ## Urban Landscapes and Ruins Some photographs depict Lego blocks and ammunition from a high angle, resembling miniature city maps or altered urban landscapes. This perspective echoes Yammine's previous work documenting the Beaufort Castle in Southern Lebanon. The stones of the castle, scarred by multiple wars, serve as a historical parallel to the fragmented cityscapes shown here. ## Superman and Lost Heroes In one poignant work, a blurry Superman figure appears behind a twisted bullet that dominates the foreground. This choice serves as a sad irony, contrasting the childhood belief in a savior with the harsh reality of war. It highlights the disillusionment of children who knew superheroes from screens but bullets from proximity. ## Absence of the Child Although children are physically absent from the photographs, their presence is implied in every frame. Yammine invites the viewer to imagine a child sitting on the ground, filling trucks with whatever they find. This absence is perhaps the most bitter element of the exhibition, emphasizing the stolen innocence of war-affected youth. ## A Call for Rationality The exhibition serves as a stark reminder of the world's failure to protect its youngest members. While a child requires only a little imagination to create joy, the world requires significant rationality to stop supplying the tools of destruction. Yammine's work remains a powerful critique of the cycle of violence. ## Sources covering this story - https://aawsat.com/node/5338176 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._