Our Planet, Our Future: Art With a Message
We were invited to “Our Planet, Our Future,” a World Environment Day art exhibition organised by Art4you Gallery and curated by Jesno Jackson. It ran for three days at Art Smiley Gallery. The experience stayed with us long after we left.
The show brought together artists, collectors, and visitors who were all thinking about the same question: what are we leaving behind for the planet?
We went expecting to look at paintings. Instead, we ended up talking with the artists themselves, and that turned out to be the best part.
A Curator With a Light Touch
Jesno Jackson didn’t build the show around one big message. Instead, she let 22 artists from 16 countries each make their own point about the planet, using whatever style suited them best: oil paint, resin, recycled fabric, glass, or digital art.
Walking through the gallery felt less like a tour and more like joining a conversation already in progress.
We spent the most time in front of the pieces that weren’t easy to understand right away; the ones you had to look at twice before the meaning clicked. Several artists told us this was on purpose. Art that simply shows a problem gets ignored. Art that makes you stop and think does its job.
Meeting the Artists
The best part of any exhibition is talking to the people who made the art. We spent a good part of the evening doing just that.
One artist who stood out for us was Lebanese artist Tina Azar. She showed four abstract works about the ongoing struggle between people and nature. Talking with her, it was easy to see how Beirut’s own story of resilience had shaped her work. She was warm and clearly moved that her art was showing alongside artists from 16 other countries, all telling similar stories.
Other artists, like Eric Afranie, Tariq AlSalmaan, Vasilisa Eliseeva, Thomas Antony, Cristina Alves, and Sibel Yavuz; each explored humanity’s relationship with nature in their own way. Sofia Ali, Cristina Gabriela, Vineeth Edathil, and Kay focused on oceans, forests, and wildlife.
What struck us most was that none of the artists spoke with despair. There was urgency, and sometimes grief, but mostly a stubborn kind of hope. Painting a dying reef or a tough desert plant felt like a small act of resistance.
“Protecting nature requires collective awareness and shared responsibility. The same message, told twenty-two different ways.”
Signing the Canvas
The opening night’s highlight was a group activity called “Signing the Canvas.”
Guests, including dignitaries, artists, and VIPs were invited to add their mark to one shared canvas. It was a small gesture, but it felt like real participation rather than empty ceremony.
Afterward, every artist received a living Pothos plant as a gift from The Green Revolution DXB, the exhibition’s sustainability partner. It was a simple gift, but watching each artist carry their plant away felt like a promise: this conversation about the planet doesn’t end when the gallery closes.
Art You Could Walk Into
Two installations pulled visitors out of passive viewing.
“Resilience in Bloom” combined nine hand-painted cactus sculptures set in a desert scene, each made by a different artist. Together, they made one simple point: even something as ordinary as a cactus can be a symbol of survival.
Nearby, “Interwoven” spread across three connected installations about oceans, forests, and conservation, built for visitors to walk through, not just look at.
We watched people stop in front of these pieces, phones forgotten in their pockets, just looking. In a room full of art made for photos, that felt like a real win.
What We Took Away
“As visitors left the gallery, they carried more than memories of great artworks,” said Rengi Cherian, CEO and Founder of Art4you Gallery. “They carried a renewed appreciation for our planet, and a reminder that every creative act, that every individual action can help build a more sustainable future.”
We couldn’t agree more. Our planet isn’t just something we inherit. It’s something we’re trusted to look after.
One exhibition, one conversation, and one small green gift at a time.
By Mirna El Osta
Founder / Editorial Creative Director, Beirut Art Magazine
