BEIRUT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- From a high vantage point above Tripoli, the second-largest city in Lebanon, one can spot a striking 1.4-km-long bright green zone.

It's the rooftops of 85 buildings across various neighborhoods, which have been painted in a uniform color to form the Arabic word "salam," meaning "peace."

The art project was initiated by twin brothers Omar Kabbani and Mohamed Kabbani. Omar Kabbani, 41, told Xinhua that the area is the frontline of the fighting between the local Alawite and Sunni neighborhoods.

The long-running sectarian conflict has claimed hundreds of lives, with piles of rubble and bullet-riddled buildings everywhere, and even walking on rooftops has become a perilous act due to the constant threat of sniper attacks.

In 2017, Omar and his twin brother, Mohammed, self-funded a three-week initiative. They engaged local residents to clear their rooftops of debris and coat them with paint.

To encourage participation, the paint selected not only offered a waterproof shield for the roofs but also helped cool the buildings during hot weather.

The initiative has received a lot of attention and helped bring rare tranquility to the area that lasts to this day.

"In the past, the media has portrayed Lebanon as a place of violence and radicalism, but this is a country of infinite creativity and talent. We wanted to send a big message that we really care about peace," said Omar.

For the Kabbani brothers, the idea of employing street art as a medium to advocate for peace had been brewing for quite some time.

They were born in 1983 during the Lebanese civil war when Beirut was divided and occupied by different armed forces.

During their childhood school commutes, the brothers frequently encountered militiamen carrying assault rifles in one hand, spray-painting slogans on walls to assert control over their neighborhood.

The scene made a lasting impact on them at a young age, and they dreamed of one day reoccupying their neighborhood with art rather than violence.

In 2001, they founded Ashekman in Beirut, which means "car exhaust" in Lebanese slang.

"The exhaust pipe takes the dirt from the inside of the car to the outside, and we do the same thing through art. We expose the evils of society and expose everything through art," Omar said.

When selecting the theme for their graffiti, the brothers found inspiration in the Japanese animated figure Grendizer. Throughout their childhood, Grendizer served as a heroic symbol, safeguarding the Earth from adversaries in the cartoon. Consequently, they opted to utilize his image to advocate for the idea of peace and saving the planet.

In the beginning, the brothers often rose at 4 a.m. to create graffiti under bridges or on building walls. Leveraging social media for visibility, they gradually garnered attention.

"When people see that someone has the courage to go out on the street and spray paint and stand on the same side as them, they are inspired and have the passion to speak out," Omar said.

The streetscape of Beirut is quietly changing thanks to a growing number of graffiti artists. From Hamra to Gimmeyeh and many unknown corners, vibrant and contemporary street art has brought a visual impact to the urban space and redefined the relationship between the city and its people.

Driven by the growing popularity, the brothers have established their own clothing brand and graffiti studios, which have empowered them to achieve self-reliance, ensuring their sustained involvement and viability within the art industry.

"We want to be globally oriented and represent our culture, our country, and get our voice out to the world," Omar said. Enditem

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