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Syrian Artists Make Mesmerizing Street Art Amid Post-War Ruins

Syrian Artists Make Mesmerizing Street Art Amid Post-War Ruins
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A group of Syrian volunteers from an organization called Pulse of Life have decided to delight their compatriots with street art. The idea was to distract them from sad post-war thoughts and bring a smile to their faces.

Syrian Artists Make Mesmerizing Street Art Amid Post-War Ruins

Currently, the group of artists from Pulse of Life is working on painting the wall of a school called Dar As-Salam, in the Damascus quarter of Al-Shaalyan. Coordinator of the group Mowaffak Makhoul said that due to the war, there are very few places and objects left in the city which please the eye.

"Society cannot develop without beauty. We create our work for education, development, and art. We originally wanted to work on the street because our daily environment is as important as a rare trip to a museum or to an exhibition," Makhoul said.

He continued to say that previously, the team of artists did not appreciate street art, even considering it to be hostile to their culture. However, the war and the destruction that followed changed their views, and now they see why street art can be a positive element.

Syrian Artists Make Mesmerizing Street Art Amid Post-War Ruins

With the help of street art, we can raise the cultural level of a person, and develop his aesthetic taste. It is especially important to diversify visual patterns for a person when there is disruption and greyness all around," Makhoul said.

He explained that the visual art form that they use is a bas-relief. It is a sculptural technique where the sculpted elements remain attached to the background of the same material. The team then diversifies it with natural and colored materials, for example, ceramics.

"We try to make them durable, resistant to the impact of the external environment," the artist added.

According to another member of Pulse of Life, Muhammed Suleiman, the artists are developing and implementing their work together with the Syrian Ministry of Education.

Syrian Artists Make Mesmerizing Street Art Amid Post-War Ruins

Syrian Artists Make Mesmerizing Street Art Amid Post-War Ruins

"This work on the wall, on which we are working today, we are carrying out with the support of the Ministry and the World Health Organization. Our work is very optimistic and bright, it is a visual dialogue that children especially enjoy. Therefore, we often work close to schools," Suleiman said.

The artist Rajaa Wabi said, "Despite my busy workload, I have a husband and children, but I am happy to do this creative work. I get strength from a dream that beautiful walls will transform our streets and life, especially for our children."

The Syrian war has been labeled as the deadliest conflict of this century. Over the course of almost five years more than 250, 000 Syrians lost their lives with more than 11 million forced to leave their homes.

Now as the dust is settling on the destroyed country, civilians are returning to their towns and cities with a hope to start their lives over.

Source: Sputnik, Edited by website team

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