Tradition and history meet in Sadad at the Stone Sculpture Forum

Homs-Sana

Sadad, with its ancient history, ancient churches, solid stones, and residents who defied the terrorists of ISIS, hosted eleven plastic artists from different governorates to participate in the Stone Sculpture Forum entitled (Sadad Heritage and History).

The forum, which was set up by the Diocese of Homs, Hama, Tartous and its Dependencies for the Syriac Orthodox, in cooperation with the Union of Syrian Plastic Artists and the Sadad Youth Team, lasted for ten days to present eleven artistic sculptures on basalt stones and the solid white Palmyrene stone that characterizes Sadad.

About the forum and the purpose of its stay in Sadad, Engineer Muhammad Irfan Abu Al-Shamat, head of the General Union of Plastic Artists, said in a statement to SANA Cultural, “Art in its various colors is an international language, and sculptural gatherings represent the civilized face of every country and Syria is proud of this beautiful visual cultural event that brings together the great sculptors in the town of Historically ancient as Sadad.”

For his part, Imad Kashout, Director of Fine Arts at the Ministry of Culture, affirmed the ministry’s support for any cultural initiative that encourages plastic art to spread visual culture in our society, describing Sadad as a city rich in archaeology and culture and worthy of its squares adorned with works of creative artists, hoping that these demonstrations will include all governorates.

In turn, Archbishop Martimothy Matta al-Khoury, patron of the Diocese of Homs, Hama, Tartous and its dependencies, saw that the forum was a message from Syria to the whole world that our country was and will remain a cradle of art, culture and beauty, and it is the source of history, and that through sculptures presented by distinguished artists in the forum, during a very short period we were able to summarize all the civilizations that testify to Our country is rich.

Plastic artist Hassan Halawani, artistic director of the forum, stated that Sadad was chosen because of its nobility in history and to give this desert city an aesthetic spirit that is added to its beauty, so the sculptural works were inspired by the spirit of the place.

Regarding his participation in the forum, Halawani explained that he presented a carving on the white Palmyrene stone in a literal abstraction style, representing an obelisk with the Syriac letter engraved on it, which is the basis of the Aramaic language and symbolizes our deep roots in history.

Regarding his participation in the forum, the plastic artist Aktham Abdel Hamid explained that he came from the city of Ugarit to participate in a sculptural work on the antique black basalt stone titled “The Lady of Olives” in the form of a human face wrapped in olive leaves because he saw the abundance of this tree in (Sadad), which symbolizes fertility and goodness.

Also from Lattakia, the plastic artist Muhammad Bajano participated in a sculptural duo in the form of a bird of prey and a wild horse entitled (Strength and Authenticity), believing that Sadad, like other cities, resisted and steadfastly challenged the invaders’ attempts to destroy its rich heritage.

Plastic artist Gandhi Khader from Hama governorate expressed his happiness to participate in the forum that shows the blending of Syrian culture through its artists, pointing out that he worked in his sculptural work on the symbolic abstract trend with the aim of raising the fine culture and leaving the recipient to ask and think for himself what is meant by the work.

Dr. Samir Rahma is a professor in the Department of Sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus, who participated in an abstract work. He saw that the sculptors forums are an opportunity to meet the sculptors and their interaction with each other and with the host community, and that the presence of the forum in the process of it is symbolic, especially since it is far from the spotlight and went through a severe crisis. Therefore, the forum is a point of hope, joy and love. And a small nucleus for a large integrated cultural project that includes sculpting workshops for young and old throughout Syria.

For his part, the plastic artist, Waddah Salameh, expressed his happiness to participate in the forum with a sculptural work in the form of a bird that used stone and iron in its composition to give it an additional luster, titled (Guardian of the Precious Jewel) in reference to the desert jewel that these works will adorn because they deserve it.

From Tartous, the plastic artist Alaa Muhammad came to participate in a sculptural work on the white stone entitled (Historical Gradation), in which he expressed, as he read and heard from the people of Sadad, about the historical stages that the city, rooted in history and reviving in its architecture, doors, churches and women’s status, noting the importance of the forum because it brings together artists who exchange experiences and get to know each other. on their tools and materials and interact directly with the recipient.

In the form of a woman trying to rise despite the pain, the plastic artist Aksam Al-Salloum embodied his sculpture, which he described as representing Syria, the rising, strong, and clinging mother Syria.

From As-Suwayda, the plastic artist Osama Amasha came to participate in the forum with a sculpture on the Homsi basalt stone, projecting on it his own research over the years to indicate the history of Syrian civilizations, using symbols such as fish that signify fertility, giving and goodness.

During the forum, the curtain was unveiled on the statue of the late Archbishop Marcellus Boutros Al-Nama, which is the work of the plastic artist from Deir ez-Zor, Hisham El-Gado.

After a musical concert, which was performed by the Harmony band led by artist Rand Sukkar in the church hall, the plastic artists participating in the forum were honored.

Hanan Sweid