30 Seconds Out of Time, 2021 by Serwan Baran captures a harrowing moment of bravery and tragedy. This acrylic painting depicts firemen in their vivid red uniforms rushing into the infamous Warehouse #12, situated at the Port of Beirut, just moments before the devastating August 4th, 2020 Beirut explosion. The gestural chaotic brushstrokes and intense colors evoke a sense of urgency and peril, drawing the viewer into the midst of the action. Baran’s style in this piece is reminiscent of Francis Bacon's visceral intensity, characterized by distorted and emotionally charged figures. The firemen, with their faces obscured and bodies caught in frantic motion, are set against a backdrop of an apocalyptic aftermath of the explosion. The use of acrylic paint, as a thick and fast drying medium, mirrors the urgency of reporting the deadly incident in a raw and expressive manner.

This artwork commemorates the sacrifice of the firemen who perished and functions as an act of witness. The project emerged from Baran’s discovery of broadcast images of the firemen entering the warehouse. Knowing that all ten would shortly vanish, he imagined the unknowable: their conversations, their final steps, and their disappearance. This reflection gave rise to a series of twenty-eight works under the project title ‘30 Seconds Out of Time’. The phrase “out of time” speaks to the fleetingness of those final moments and to the impossibility of fully grasping what had transpired. The series is less about literal representation and more about honoring the memory of those lost, thus transcending documentation and becoming testimony.

Baran’s artistic practice has always been shaped by the contexts in which he lives, and his years in Beirut were no exception. He grappled with destruction, loss, and resilience in his works from this period, as he was deeply affected by the 2020 blast, the Lebanese economic crisis, and the global pandemic. While 30 Seconds Out of Time memorializes firemen, other works from this period, such as Beirut Clean-up, reflects the collective efforts of volunteers who poured into the streets to sweep debris and reclaim their city. Witnessing this act of civic love was inspirational and moving for Baran, as it showed him acts of renewal and solidarity that can come out of devastation.

30 Seconds Out of Time not only commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the firemen who perished in the explosion, but also serves as a poignant commentary on the fragility and heroism inherent in such tragedies. Baran's ability to translate profound emotional and historical experiences into his work is evident in the haunting imagery and deep sense of loss conveyed in this artwork. The piece stands as a powerful reminder of the lives lost and the resilience of those who face unimaginable dangers in the line of duty.

signed front lower right and on reverse in english