Plastic Artists’ Union branch in Lattakia held its annual exhibition 

With the participation of 50 artists from Lattakia governorate, the Plastic Artists’ Union branch  in cooperation with the Directorate of Culture, recently held its annual exhibition at Al-Bassel Exhibition Hall.

The exhibition displayed oil, water, acrylic and pastel paintings in addition to 15 sculptures using stone, wood and artificial stone materials. The artworks represented different techniques and art schools.

“This cultural event is of great importance as it includes a rich collection of works of variety topics with the participation of a group of young plastic artists, in addition to prominent ones which constituted an incentive for young artists to benefit from other artistic experiences” Head of the Plastic Artists Union branch in Lattakia, artist Farid Raslan said in a statement to Syriatimes e-newspaper.

He noted the diversity of the artworks which embodied various artistic schools including abstraction, realism, impressionism and expressionism

Plastic artist and retired Brigadier General Adnan Fadel said in a statement to Syriatimes that “art in general is a memory, identity and heritage of society, and plastic art is a mirror to the world”.

He pointed out that through his paintings he seeks to document the heritage, especially the civilization and nobility of the Levant, and combines art and heritage.

“My painting in the exhibition, entitled “From Memory” embodied my childhood’s memories on the rocky shore on the western corniche of Lattakia city , where I used to spend an exciting time with my friends, playing and swimming, and watching the fishermen where they gathered” Fadel said.

He pointed out “My dream was to be an artist. When I was in the eighth grade in 1970, I participated in the Golden Jubilee of “Jules Jamal” School in Lattakia through three of my artworks”.

Mr. Fadel , who studied painting at the Cultural Center for Fine Arts in Lattakia, depends in his artworks on  the realistic school of art.

For her part, sculptor Maha Yazji expressed her happiness at participating in the exhibition, which she considered an important opportunity for artists to exchange experiences in the field of plastic art, especially through the participation of prominent artists.

The artist Yazji indicated that her participation in the exhibition included two sculptures made of olive wood, which despite its hardness, according to the artist, is considered soft and flexible for sculpture.

The first sculpture embodied the state of contemplation and concentration of the female, while the second one entitled “ girls of flowers”  embodied three girls carrying flowers as a symbol of beauty and fertility.

The young artist, Shiraz Darwish, focused in her painting on the issue of women, who are the center of everything as woman represents beauty and femininity, and several issues in society.

The artist indicated that the condition of women in society differed from the past, as nowadays they bear many responsibilities and face difficult circumstances.

The artist used warm colors to express intimate moments and cool colors to express the state of stillness and calmness.

Interviewed by: Rawaa  Ghanam

Photos by: Rawaa  Ghanam