World Syrian plastic artist Hiyam Salman’s exhibitions in Tokyo
“Art is a sublime and purposeful message. It is integrated culture, behavior, mind and vision. Art is to act on the ground, not just drawing and coloring. We need to create a space of beauty, safety and peace through art” the prominent Syrian plastic artist Hiyam Salman said in an interview with the Syriatimes e-newspaper.
A combination of drawing, color and the selection of fabric in a special style formed the main factor in securing a distinguished place for the paintings of the Syrian plastic artist, Hiyam Salman, in an exhibition held recently in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.
“The world artist is the one who is able to influence his surroundings. I am an honest and realistic artist from my local community I spread my art all over the world I had the opportunity to convey a message through my paintings” according to Salman.
Plastic artist Hiyam, who has worked since 2000 on drawing paintings from the remains of fabrics in a special experience indicated “The idea of holding the exhibition in Japan came after converting a collection of my fabric artworks, which won the Japanese audience’s admiration, into scarves.
She added that the idea of printing her fabric artworks on scarves in Japan was proposed by Dr. Hiroyuki Aoyama, the Academic Coordinator of Arab Studies at the University of Tokyo, to participate in YDY Bridge project after his visit to Syria. The project is run by Japanese artist Yuki Yasuda and focuses on supporting artists in Syria and the Middle East in general.
Hiyam pointed out that the artist Yasuda chose five paintings which embodied a variety of subjects including the sunset in Lattakia and Ra’as al-Basit, a painting entitled “The Blue Woman and the Crow”, the Spring in Syria and another one entitled “The City of the Dream”.
The Syrian artist noted that she participated in an art exhibition on Middle Eastern productions held in Osaka, Japan last May, after which her artworks were transferred to Tokyo to be displayed in an held at the “ Ancient World” store on the 8th to the 19th of this month.
The plastic artist explained that her fabric artworks will be transferred to be displayed in a new exhibition due to be held at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies on 3-7 October, under the supervision of Dr. Aoyama and YDI bridge project and with the support of the Japan and Syria Students Association.
The artist Hiyam Salman, who is Head of the Board of Directors of the “I draw my Dream” artistic Association, indicated that after the visit of Dr. Aoyamam and Mr. Maki Sato, who support Syrian children with cancer, they were very impressed with the children’s drawings. Mr. Maki has created an opportunity for the children, who joined drawing courses at the association to participate in an exhibition in Tokyo, she clarified, pointing out that the exhibition, which was opened on the 21st of September and will last until the 10th of October, included 12 paintings for children aged 5 to 12.
The children’s paintings in the exhibition focused on positive aspects such as peace, joy, beauty, education and hope, she added, affirming that culture is a bridge between the Syrian and Japanese peoples.
“Art is a way to learn about the world of the child through his paintings, and it is at the same time a means for the child to adapt to society” according to Salman.
She stressed the importance of planting the seeds of art in children to see beauty and how they expresses themselves through art. Children deserve a better life because they are the hope of the future.
“My exhibition in Japan is a message to the whole world that Syrian women are still able to innovate despite all difficulties. Our heritage is our identity, and I feel proud that I managed to revive the heritage through my art which depend on the spirit of women in the East” the artist Salman concluded.
Interviewed by : Rawaa Ghanam
Photos by : Rawaa Ghanam