A leading Syrian art gallery has faced years of isolation due to international sanctions, which prevented Syrian artists and galleries from participating in global events or trading artworks easily.

Damascus

Zawaiya Art Gallery, a prominent centre for art in Syria, has faced significant obstacles over recent years due to international sanctions. These restrictions prevented Syrian artists and galleries from participating in global events and made the buying and selling of artworks difficult. For example, transactions from abroad were often blocked if they were linked to Damascus, causing financial complications for both artists and buyers.

Gallery representatives described the resulting artistic isolation, explaining that artists were unable to leave the country or collaborate with international peers. Despite these challenges, Syrian artists continued their work, documenting experiences from pre-war Syria through to the present, including periods of conflict and the emergence of street art.

Access to quality art supplies has also been an ongoing issue. Artists like Ghazan Akhil reported having to make their own paints using improvised methods and materials, as standard art supplies were not readily available in the local market. The limited domestic market for art was further constrained by the economic situation, with many citizens prioritising basic necessities over art.

Damascus has historically been a centre of artistic activity, but sanctions rendered much of Syria's creative output invisible to the wider world. With the recent news of some sanctions relief, Syrian artists are now hopeful for more opportunities to engage with the global art community.



Syrian artists seek global spotlight after years of isolation

Zawaiya Art Gallery is one of the main centers for art in Syria. It's hidden away in a building above a law firm. It's fitting considering that Syrian art has been hidden away from the world because of sanctions. Rouba Suleiman hopes that that isolation is about to end. It's been a hard struggle for the gallery. We as galleries weren't able to participate in events outside the country. An artist couldn't leave the country or meet and learn from the experiences of other artists. Creating some sort of artistic isolation. In terms of buying and selling artworks, we had major complications. One of our customers, who's from Switzerland, bought an art piece and wired the money to Lebanon. The Lebanese bank looked at our gallery up and blocked our account due to the fact that we were based in Damascus. And despite those challenges, Syrian art struggled on, with the artists documenting their own experiences. Some of the paintings in the gallery show a short history of Syria's recent past. Pre-war Syria. Syria at war. And the graffiti that sprung up after the Assad regime fell. For struggling artists, the news of sanctions relief is welcome. Ghazan Akhil is an accomplished painter with gallery representation. Despite that, he's had to struggle just to be able to create. He's had to make his own paints. Quality paints are rarely available in the marketplace. I used to get powders that aren't specific for artworks. Ones that were used for clothes dyeing or floor tiles. Then put them on a stove top for a specific time, add sugar to make them stick, add a number of chemicals until I get the color that I wanted. All of this was because I couldn't find the colors that I needed or supplies that I wanted. The domestic market for art is tiny because of the sanctions. People are more concerned with getting food on the table rather than art on the walls. But Syria has a rich artistic history. Damascus used to be a major center for art for centuries, from Roman times to modern street art like this. Sanctions made it invisible to the world, but now the opportunity arises to join the world creative sage and Syrian artists are ready to take their place upon it. Imran Khan, Al Jazeera, Damascus. Al Jazeera, Damascus.

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