Damascus contemporary art scene: The Role of War in Reshaping Identity and Defining the Borders.

25 March 2022.
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Tunisia time.
Samer Betar (Host), Farah Sayem (Co-Host), Cyrine Ghrissi (Co-Host).

SCHEDULE

2:00 – 2:30
The formation of the scene in Damascus:
– History of practice, and institutions.
– The reality of the market, topics, and materials.
– A description of the opportunities available for development.

2:30 – 2:50

The scene in Europe after 2011:
– Studying the nature of the artists active in this scene.
– The role of definition and the use of war terms in providing opportunities and identifying practices.
– Topics discussed outside the context of war.

2:50 – 3:10

Analysis of exchange impact on the two scenes at home and abroad.
– The role of international institutions and organizations in influencing identity.
– Analyzing the reality of work individually and collectively.
– Identify opportunities that can support exchange.

3:10 – 4:00

Open discussion

GUEST SPEAKER(S)

Humam Alsalim

Syrian- Berlin based architect, curator and digital artist.

While studying architecture in Damascus he started an online project for the archiving and promotion of Syrian art. With Khaled Youssef, he later co-founded the Syria.Art Non-profit association in Nice, France. The association organizes multi-medium art exhibitions, film screenings and cultural events for Syrian born artists and creatives. He also founded the online Cyrrus Gallery for the sale of art from the middle east.

His first exhibition was a travelling exhibition with the title “Behind the Lines”, the exhibition started in 2016 in Penticton and travelled 18 museums and galleries in British Columbia, Yukon and Calgary. It included over 100 artworks from 20 Syrian Artists. He also worked with different non-Profits, museums and galleries to curate exhibitions in Germany, France, South Korea, Wales, Romania and the US.
Website: Humam Al-Salim

MAP