The Contemporary Art Scene in Syria

This book focuses on the expanding contemporary art scene in Syria, particularly Damascus, during the first decade of the twenty-first century. The decade was characterized by a high degree of experimentation as young artists began to work with artistic media that were new in Syria, such as video, installation and performance art.

This book focuses on the expanding contemporary art scene in Syria, particularly Damascus, during the first decade of the twenty-first century. The decade was characterized by a high degree of experimentation as young artists began to work with artistic media that were new in Syria, such as video, installation and performance art. They were rethinking the role of artists in society and looking for ways to reach audiences in a more direct manner and address socio-cultural and socio-political issues.

The Contemporary Art Scene in Syria will be of interest to scholars of global and Middle Eastern art studies, and also to scholars interested in the recent social and cultural history of Syria and the wider Middle East.

Autorentext

Charlotte Bank is an art historian and independent curator with a PhD in Arabic from the University of Geneva.

Inhalt

Introduction

1. "Culture is Humanity's Highest Needs": Art and Artists between Autonomy and Coercion

2. Commitment, Critique and the Power of Imagination

3. Creating Meaning in Visual art: Technique, Critique and Subject Matter

4. Singing in the Kingdom of Silence: Syrian Artists and the International Art World

Conclusion