The historical and aesthetic features of Damascus were manifested in 46 artistic works presented by 24 visual artists, within the group exhibition that opened today, Sunday, at the Abu Rummaneh Arab Cultural Center, under the title 'Love of Damascus'.
The artists recalled the memory of Damascus, the oldest inhabited capital in history, in their works, evoking details of its architecture, markets, and popular houses, and the ancient civilizational and cultural heritage it contains, through various artistic styles, materials, and techniques that reflected their connection to the city and its specificity.
Diversity of Visions and Artistic Styles
Visual artist Reem Basmar presented four oil paintings that evoked scenes from Damascus memory, one of which depicted the architectural and commercial movement in Al-Hamidiyah Souq, while another addressed the atmosphere of the Damascus kitchen and its traditional elements, such as 'Al-Namliya', household provisions, and preparing coffee on a 'gas burner'.
She also addressed details of the Umayyad Mosque in a third painting through an architectural window, its frame decorated with gold leaf, in reference to the religious and historical value of the place, while the fourth painting evoked the popular features of Sheikh Muhyi al-Din Souq in the Salhiyah district.
The exhibits included an oil painting inspired by spiritual atmosphere from the Quranic verse 'And your Lord will surely give you, and you will be satisfied', combining in its background elements inspired by carpets and Eastern and classical ornaments, alongside a painting about the historical ruins of Palmyra distinguished by its calm colors and smooth texture.
In a work titled 'Damascus Shadows', one artist redefined the features of alleys in Old Damascus, evoking its details through one of its walls, in a scene that leads the viewer to the heart of the old city.
Visual artist Mahmoud Qaddah, participating from Salamiyah, told SANA that he chose to participate with an oil painting titled 'The Butterfly Battle After the Capital', despite his habit of drawing in pencil and black and white, benefiting from his experience in both Cubist and Expressionist directions to provide a symbolic treatment of a butterfly with a broken wing and damaged horn, expressing femininity, fragility, and confronting pain.
For his part, visual artist Ali Al-Saadi indicated that he participated with three oil paintings executed on canvas, measuring 50x70 cm, addressing Old Damascus through scenes of Al-Hamidiyah Souq, Sarouj Souq, and Bab al-Jabiya.
Al-Saadi explained that his works evoke the antiquity of the old city, with its stacked houses and narrow alleys containing the features of Damascus life and values of love and beauty, noting that these details represent part of the city's historical and emotional memory.
Experimenting with Materials and Symbolic Dimensions
In the field of experimenting with artistic materials, artist Yonel Youssef recorded his first participation in the exhibition with works in which he used carpets and paper, employing the technique of burning with an iron to produce textures and colors that evoke the antiquity of things and the memory they contain.
He also presented a paper work that included words and phrases related to Damascus and its details, through which he sought to present a miniature image of the city through its cultural and traditional elements.
The 'Love of Damascus' exhibition forms an artistic space where multiple schools and visual experiences converge around the city as a shared visual and human subject, where details of architecture and daily life become works that evoke the memory and heritage of the place, renewing its presence in the consciousness of artists.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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