Syrian plastic artists keen on holding exhibitions inside Syria and abroad to expose the terrorist war on Syria

Over the past years of the savage war on Syria, the Syrian fine artists have chosen art to be their weapon in defending their beloved country against takfiri terrorism, artist Fareed Reslan head of the Lattakia branch of Plastic Artists’ Union said in a statement to Syriatimes e-newspaper, pointing out that art carries unlimited messages as it is the mirror of civilization, history, morals and creativity and it is one of the finest types of expression.

The Syrian artists, he stressed, have been keen on holding exhibitions and other cultural activities inside Syria and abroad to depict and document the humanitarian suffering caused to the Syrians by foreign-backed terrorism that has aimed to destroy Syria’s deep-rooted civilization and cultural heritage.

Within this context, a delegation of 21 pioneering artists, including heads of the branches of Plastic Artists’ Union (PAU) in different Syrian provinces, visited Iran recently to brief, according to Reslan, the Iranian people on what Syria has been experiencing during the brutal war and on the destruction caused to its ancient civilization, heritage and culture.

The 8-day visit, he said, also aimed at bolstering bilateral relations binding Syria and Iran in the field of art.

“Syria and Iran have had strong ties for years and this fruitful  visit asserts  that Syria is looking forward to continue and improve cooperation relations, especially in art and culture for the interest of the two friendly countries,” artist Reslan added.

He pointed out that the delegation held meetings with several Iranian cultural, artistic and academic personalities in Tehran and Asfahan during which the two sides exchanged expertise and viewpoints on the development of art.

Reslan went on to say “we visited the Fine Art Faculty and the House of Iranian Artists in Tehran where Iranian poets, musicians, artists and writers meet to discuss different artistic and cultural issues.”

The delegation also visited a number of museums in Tehran including the Museum of Islamic Art as well as the Islamic Revolution and Holy Defense Museum which documents the Iraqi-Iranian war. It also visited a number of archeological sites in Asfahan city that  represent the Iranian culture and heritage, Reslan added.

He pointed out that the Syrian delegation presented the Iranian side a number of paintings by prominent Syrian plastic artists and these paintings will be exhibited in Iranian museums in future.

Talking about the PAU Lattakia branch’s activities, Reslan said the branch constantly holds different artistic and cultural activities including collective or solo plastic art exhibitions and forums which play a vital role in enhancing cultural dialogue through the language of art.

Artist Reslan was born in Lattakia province. He is a lecturer at the faculties of Fine Arts, Education and Architecture Engineering in Tishreen University.

He has participated in a number of local exhibitions.

Interviewed by: Rawaa Ghanam

Photos by: Rawaa Ghanam