“ Engineers in the fields of color” art exhibition held in Lattakia
Under the title of “Engineers in the Fields of color ”, 11 engineers from Lattakia governorate of different specializations participated in the art exhibition that was held recently by the branch of the Syrian Engineers Association in the province .
The three-day exhibition was distinguished by displaying the intellectual and creative artworks of the engineers, diversifying between sculpture, painting on glass, photography, and natural stone paintings representing the heritage .
“Art is a message of love, joy, hope and energy, no one can paint without feelings of love and passion inside. All kinds of engineering refine talents with high professionalism”, Head of the Media and Publication Committee of the branch of the Syrian Engineers Association in Lattakia Eng. Rana Faroussi told Syria Times during visiting the exhibition .
“The cultural event , which is held annually, aims to highlight and embody another side of engineers’ creative abilities and support the creative talents of engineers in the field of art, which are deeply related to engineering because engineering is an art in itself according to Eng. Faroussi”.
She added that the exhibition is a platform for exchanging expertise and experiences between prominent engineers and the younger generation.
She indicated that the artworks included 47 paintings, 10 wood carvings, 10 works of drawing on glass, 25 wooden and metal pieces, and 10 heritage stone paintings.
The participant Architect Zainab Ghanem told Syria Times, “ This is my first participation in the exhibition. I am very happy to present myself through 6 paintings using abstract and expressive style”.
The artist indicated that the subjects of the paintings varied between human ones including love, joy, women, and the relationship of unity between man and nature in addition to the importance of keeping to be reflected on others despite the difficulties and pressures of daily life.
She underlined the close relationship between art and painting in a way that she can draw the painting in accurate dimensions, stressing the architecture is creative in the art field through which we express everything
Eng. Ghanem referred to the title of the exhibition, which expressed the state of engineers in the field of art, as each engineer in his own field, which combines engineering and art to expresses themselves in their own style through their artworks .
The participation of the mechanical engineer, MohannadAl-Abdeh, was distinguished by 10 realistic heritage stone paintings in terms of design and used materials, which are considered the first of their kind at the level of Syria in addition to 25 artworks made of wood and metal.
“Engineering is the art and study of engineering gives a broad horizon when you deal with paintings and metal pieces in a professional engineering way based on scientific principles” according to Al-Abdeh.
“ I am very fascinated with heritage, any ancient archaeological building impresses me and I feel nostalgia for it . I try through art to present our ancient heritage to generations and revitalize it” he expressed.
The engineer pointed out that he used natural materials in his paintings such as stone, wood and clay as the paintings focused on heritage subjects from different Syrian governorates, such as the coastal rural environment, religious and historical archaeological landmarks, old folk markets, facades of old government buildings and official headquarters.
“ The old buildings were distinguished by its healthy design and special charm , while the modern buildings depend only on the external beauty without seeking the goals of construction” according to Al-Abdeh.
“Syria is the home of very ancient civilizations that we cannot deny. We have an ancient and lofty architectural culture that was built by our ancestors, such as the Alhambra Palace in Granada” he expressed.
His artworks displayed in the exhibition made of waste materials of wood and metal embodied the desert, rural and coastal environment with different themes such as motherhood, joy, musical instruments, sports movements.
The engineer stressed that his artworks are a message to return to the heritage with the use of modern techniques as we are able to build our presence and create everything.
The poet and photographer, architect Muhannad Ali Hatem, said that “my participation in the exhibition came through documentary photographs that showed three famous architectural models”.
He pointed out that the first one bears the name of the lofty architecture that expressed the Alhambra Palace in Andalusia, and the second embodied the well-established architecture, the Citadel of Salah al-Din, which in the past was called Zion Castle, that means the high mountain or the fortress.
The third architectural model expressed the village of Babnna in the countryside of Al-Haffah in Lattakia, which is a group of buildings consisting of one floor and fulfilling the conditions of sustainable architecture, which is one of the latest global architecture movement. It was built by our ancestors without modern technologies and with simple capabilities
“ My grandfathers were smarter than me in designing houses although I studied modern architecture and kept up with technology and modern means of communication. Modern architecture is an imitation of Western architecture, which is not compatible with my environment and heritage. The relationship between art and engineering is the mind that, however you direct it, creates” Eng. Hatem concluded.
Interviewed by : Rawaa Ghanam
Photos by : Rawaa Ghanam