Fawwaz Alma: Art is the quickest way for communication among peoples

While I as walking in the alley of Al-Qazzazin in Damascus, I found by mere chance  a shop showing wooden statutes and paintings. This small shop contains stories portrayed by its owner, the artist Mr. Fawwaz Alma.

The 65-year-old artist, who was born in Damascus,  told Syria Times that each work in his shop narrates a story as he translates attitudes into paintings.

For example, he reflects violence against women in a portray that shows a woman carrying a heavy burden on her shoulders.

“Violence against women has nothing to do with geography as it is connected with the psychology of Man,” he said.

Mr. Alma believes that peoples have the same causes, pains, aspirations and hopes, which could be shown by using tools of expression:  pens, or paintbrushes or sculpting chisels.

“Man can express his/ her viewpoints about life through art. It is said that paintings and drawings of human activity from the Paleolithic Era were found  under rocks and in caves… My take is that art is a congenital thing,” he said.

He went on to say: “Art has been my friend, and I depend on noble materials: wood, stone, leather in making my works.. I have loved both : painting and making statues. I also write articles on dialogue between civilizations and religions and they have been published by the “Al-Maarej” magazine. Once I was asked about the relation between art and writing, I replied: “ They are linked with each other as they reflect ideas .”

He sees that art is the quickest way for communication among peoples. “You can address the west by using your culture and art and civilization..  We show our identity through art….. Creativity is connected with the civilization, experience and culture of Man and it serves a cause.

In 1900s, he was honored in Belgium after he participated in an exhibition there. After his return he was honored in his country.

“I am happy that I have been honored…..My first participation in an art exhibition was in Brussels in 1982, and then I took part in many festivals on horses in Syria.

“A horse does not only remember people who have treated him well, it also understand words better than expected. Human friends may come and go, but a horse could be one of your most loyal, long-term buddies if you treat it right,” he stated.

Moreover, he depicted Nirvana principle in his work through drawing a horse, which part of it is alive and the other one is dead.  Nirvana is the highest state of consciousness, in which the soul is freed from all desires and attachments, according to Buddhism.

The educated artist concluded by saying: “Art should reflect the positive and negative aspects in life…I trained many people on painting and making sculptures so they can develop what he could not.”

Interviewed by: Basma Qaddour