Damascenes – an exhibition to highlight Damascene neighborhoods

The Arab Cultural Center in Kafr Sousa in Damascus held a collective exhibition under the title of ” Damascenes”

The exhibition was opened on Monday by Mrs. Naima Suleiman, Director of Damascus Culture, and Ms. Elsa Qasa, Head of the Center, and was organized by the artist Muhammad Dabour.

The exhibition includes a collection of paintings depicting Damascene neighborhoods and the heritage present in the city of Damascus.

The exhibition aims to highlight the aesthetic and cultural diversity of life in the old neighborhoods and historical monuments in this ancient city.

Mrs. Naima Suleiman the director of Damascus Culture told Syria times:”The exhibition is dedicated to celebrate old Damascus and its heritage.About15 artists display about 50 paintings varied between medium and large sizes.”

“Each artist painted Damascus with his own view and love. The artists painted Damascene houses, neighborhoods, and traditional crafts and professions. It is our duty to introduce people to old Damascus, and we have to preserve this great heritage and highlight it,” Mrs. Naima said.

Artist Amal Jadou displayed one painting depicting the old wooden Damascene houses using oil colors.

Amal has participated in a several collective exhibition to familiarize herself with other paintings and gain experience.

Alaa Al-Ghabra participated in the exhibition with six paintings depicting Umayyad mosque and Al-Hamidia market.

Alaa inserted the Arabic calligraphy and seashells into his paintings

Alaa too has participated in collective exhibition everal times to aquatint people with his works.

On her part artist, Hanan Mohamad Ibrahim displayed two paintings depicting the Damascene heritage the first one showing a licorice juice vendor.

The second depicts the old Damascene neighborhoods using warm oil colors. Hanan sees that this collective exhibition celebrates the local heritage and it is a chance to show her works to the people.

Prominent artist Nazir Baroudi displayed six paintings showing the ancient Damascene handicraft professions are almost extinct.

Nazir specializes in drawing ancient Damascus, its neighborhoods, and its handicrafts so he draws 660 the collective exhibitions including diverse paintings for different artist each of them draws from his own of view.

Artist Mohamad Dabour and the organizer of the exhibition said to Syria times: “most of the participating artists are from young generation, we want to highlight the beauty of the Damascene heritage from youth’s own point of view”.

Mohamad Dabour exhibited six paintings depicting the old Damascus neighborhood: “I draw the old Damascus neighborhoods. My paintings are related to the realistic school. I drew my paintings after I visited the old Damascus neighborhoods, then I painted them using oil colors. The collective exhibitions are an opportunity to be familiar with others works” he said.

Reported and photos by: Nada Haj Khidr