The Diary of a Sky

Turner Prize-winning artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan describes himself as a “private ear,” investigating sound as evidence. In The Diary of a Sky , he examines the relentless presence of Israeli fighter jets and drones over Lebanon—440 airspace violations in just one month.

This essay film presents only shots of the sky, where white trails cut through the air, accompanied by the deafening roar of aircraft. The noise is an ongoing act of aural violence that has become a routine form of terror. Only during Beirut’s frequent power cuts, when generators momentarily fall silent, does the true impact of this sonic warfare become clear. 

This short film is part of the programme Shorts: On Borders.