In Damascus, 50 young Syrian artists exhibit paintings, sculptures, installations and graffiti in unconventional spaces, including vehicles, walls and buildings, using these to comment on freedom, hope and the human experience.

Works from the “Wa” Youth Forum, which took place at Warda Masar art space and was organised by the Fine Arts Directorate at the Ministry of Culture in partnership with the Madad Visual Arts Collective, are exhibited there. It is open from 10/25-10/28, and features works by artists under the age of 35 that tackle social and human issues in several different artistic mediums.

An experimental and collaborative space

The name “Wa”, the Arabic conjunction “and”, signifies the concept of gathering people and ideas together, fostering collective effort and collaboration, which is a central focus of the Forum, Marwan Tayara, the Forum Director, told SANA.

It started on social media with an informal suggestion and soon garnered interest from young artists who wanted to share their artwork. The organisers received lots of applications, and with the Fine Arts Directorate, they extended the forum to include 50 artists from Syria, Tayara said.

The forum is intended to provide emerging artists with space to experiment, innovate new methods and showcase their art to the public. The exhibition features paintings, sculptures and installations in various dimensions, some of them about four metres in size.

Art is about war, dreams and man

Abbas Tatou, an artist who graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Technical Institute of Applied Arts with a speciality in sculpture, presented a piece of sculpture in tin that deals with the process of the change of reality into a dream.

The forum serves as a space for the young artists to create and showcase their ideas, and also allows them to receive support from the Madad Visual Arts Collective to transform their thoughts and dreams into actual artworks, Tatou said. 

Visual artist Ali Majd painted a four-meter mural, “The Farce,” that satirises war, famine and human conflict. It is inspired by Expressionism and makes use of bold acrylic colours to express hope. Red stands for violence and the anguish of war; the sky and light areas are for openness and optimism, Majd said.

Sophia Germani, a third-year student at the Faculty of Fine Arts, submitted a graffiti piece called “You Are the Centre”, which spanned more than seven days of painting on a wall. The use of black, white and red creates an internal psychological state that gives the impression of emptiness, a feeling of being trapped in a spiral and directs the attention of the viewer towards the central theme.

Crossing boundaries, as an expression of art

Artist Ali Rostom showcased a dual presentation of his work, titled “Chain,” which is based on true experiences and a transitional moment defined by the breaking free from imprisonment and restrictions.

Rostom chose oil paints on canvas to create a contrast of warm and cool colours; he used purple and red for this purpose. The use of colour creates a dramatic effect and cinematic lighting. 

The show is an opportunity for young artists to share their experience, experiment with new strategies and speak directly to viewers. The project also aims to empower youth in Syria’s cultural and artistic life and provide fresh ideas and perspectives to Syria’s visual arts space, organisers assert.