Opening annual heritage and traditional crafts exhibition in Tartous

Under the slogan (Hand in Hand We Build the Homeland), the branch of the Union of Crafts Associations in Tartous (Society for Handicrafts and Heritage and Traditional Crafts) opened its annual exhibition at the handicrafts market, with the participation of 30 craftsmen and male and female inmates in the central prison. The exhibition included handicrafts that refer to ancient history.

The exhibition also included models of ships distinguished by their sails that mimic the Phoenician civilization, and the straw dishes that used to bring together members of the Syrian family at the dining table. These handicrafts were transformed into a masterpiece by creative craftsmen. It also included crafts from bamboo, and others made of wool threads in addition to pottery and artistic wooden sculptures which embodied the heritage, civilization, and history of our ancestors.

Craftsman Ismail Haj Mualla, whose work is characterized by precision and craftsmanship, noted that his contribution is represented by the silk unwinding and spinning machines that the ancestors used after he introduced some modifications to them, to preserve the profession of silk manufacturing, which is almost extinct after the silkworm breeders moved away from it due to its lack of economic feasibility.

Roger Ibrahim underlined the importance of continuing to hold such festivals and circulating them across the regions to reach the largest number of citizens, with the aim of shedding light on handmade and heritage works whose industry is almost extinct.

Ramadan, a member of the Council of the Craftsmen’s Union in Tartous  stressed the importance of holding this exhibition annually, especially as it provides an important opportunity to promote the products of artisans and supports their continuity in production, by integrating raw materials and creating contemporary antiques that imitate history with the imprint of the present that the grandchildren will talk about in the future because they will become grandfathers in the coming eras.

Ramadan added: There are a large number of creative craftsmen spread across the entire geographical area of the country, but in the exhibition we did not find a piece similar to another because everyone who works with these crafts has his own mark. When we see these arts we realize that no matter how advanced the machines, industries and arts are, we will not be able to make one of these antiques because they were made in a spirit of love for their history.

Ramadan confirmed that the handicrafts and heritage crafts market, located in the ferry adjacent to Al-Tala’i Park on the Seaside Corniche, was established nearly two years ago and opens its doors daily. He pointed out that there is a square adjacent to the market in which handicrafts and products of participants in the exhibition are currently displayed. Ramadan hopes that in the near future this square will be a panoramic building that includes our heritage and civilization and is transformed into an incubator for training grandchildren in traditional crafts to preserve them from extinction.
Inas Abdulkareem