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Portraits of Syrians expressing their thoughts of freedom as handwritten signs on the government’s official newspaper.
Aug 2012A small group of Free Syrians offer their words….
This project takes on one of the Syrian Government’s most prominent symbols – The Ba’ath Newspaper – as part and parcel of the Baath Security State - and here turns it upside down to be a surface of new thoughts written by the Syrian people thus overturning the daily chronicle of government lies.
We emphasize also that the comments are directed not particularly to the Ba’ath but rather to ‘The Regime’ itself. Each participant was invited to use the newspaper or write some words to symbolize his or her thoughts within the general idea of the revolution.
Those are Syrians. Here are their words.
This project began from the earliest months of the revolution. It was a time when the camera was, and continues to be, one of the revolution’s most important weapons. It was also important to work in simple and easily accessible ways while remaining discreet and not attracting too much attention.
Participating in this project gave birth to new friendships, as has the revolution itself, in bringing together diverse Syrian individuals and their talks of revolution and freedom with all the complex emotional mix they entail - ecstasy, sadness and determination - they proudly express their allegiance to the one homeland, Syria.
>> A Small Group of Syrians
20 portraits from the ongoing photo series
Jaber Al Azmeh
* 1973 Damascus, Syria.
He received his BFA in Visual Communications at Damascus University. He works as a professional photography since 1998, having established his own studio specialized in advertising photography. From from 2006 to 2011 he was a resident professor in photography at the International University of Science & Technology, Damascus.
Jaber Al Azmeh had his first solo exhibition titled Metaphors in 2009 at Atassi Gallery, Damascus, followed by Green Art Gallery, Dubai, where he also exhibited Traces in 2011. He has participated in various group shows, including KunstStoff Syrien - Insights into a Torn Country, 7 - 18 August 2012, Forum Factory, Berlin, Germany; Journées de la Photographie 2011, organized by CCF Damascus; The Retrospective of Fine Arts in Syria (IV), New Generation of Syrian Artists, organized by the Damascus Arab Capital of Culture in 2008; Biennial Dei Giovani Artisti Del Mediterraneo, Rome, Italy, 1999.
A Small Group of Syrians is a work in progress.
It can be followed on: facebook.com/jaberalazmeh