The Second Exhibition of Syrian Sculpture
Thousands of years ago, Syrian sculpture left its distinctive mark on the human cultural heritage and this ancient art has always had its own glory.
Sculptures by Syrian artists mixed with the scent of Damascene Jasmine and the Damascus heritage in the Blue House were displayed together to form an expressive distinctive painting.
Under the auspices of the Minister of Culture, Dr. Labanah Mashouh, the second exhibition of Syrian sculpture was held at the Blue House Gallery in Damascus on the 1st of June and will last until June 15th. The exhibition includes a large collection of sculptures by 27 Syrian sculptors, varying between bronze, metal, wood, and stone.
In an interview with Syriatimes, sculptor Halla Al Jari, one of the sculptors participating in the exhibition, and a graduate of the faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University, said”: I started working in the field of sculpture in 2020 and I participated in the exhibition with a sculpture made of metal and aluminum. I chose the light color to match the light movement that the sculpture expresses which is my feeling that the soul is moving outside its physical body”.
She added” I worked on formations that represent the human body modified in an abstract and expressive way, so I would be closer to surrealism, which relies on exaggeration. I rely on the shapes found in nature, such as the branches of trees, which inspire me with some ideas. Some trees have huge branches that end thin and skinny, but they achieve visual balance and this is what I try to communicate through my works”.
Sculptor Manaf Hasan stated to Syriatimes : I participated in the exhibition with one sculpture made of bronze.
“My sculpture is a frame that represents a window, and the sculpture expresses the human relationship with time and the excessive waiting behind the window creates a state of refractions, so turning the window into a tool like gallows which expresses the difficulty of waiting”.
Hasan added, “Sculpture is the first tool of human expression and a visual language. It is a cumulative subject of complete life experiences that expresses the artist’s experiences, pain, and life”.
The organizer of the exhibition, Mr. Samer Al Eid, said:” Last year we held the first exhibition of Syrian sculptors, which included 20 sculptors, and it was very successful and popular. Hence, the idea came to hold a joint periodic exhibition of sculpture.
We held the exhibition in the Blue House Gallery and that helped a lot in displaying the sculptures in a special way due to the large area and the Damascene decoration of which the sculptures formed a part.
This exhibition is considered one of the very few exhibitions specialized in the art of sculpture and not joint with painting and photography”.
He added:” we are happy that Syrian art continues to work and create, despite the circumstances of war and difficulties we have faced during the last years”.
Souha sulieman