Art, politics and military images collide in my work as I’m trying to explore the power systems that play in the war.
My paintings are grounded in images of tanks and soldiers, both common sights in Syria as a proxy war represented by different forces fight for control of the land and its resources.
I normally start with a central image, then layer symbols and writing in various languages over that image. The convergence of these symbols — some of which come from Shi’a, Sunni, Christian or Jewish culture — reflects the cultural diversity of the region and the many voices present in the war.
For me now, these paintings are a road map for understanding the chain of events in my country.
When I see these paintings after 10 years, if I’m still alive, I can understand what was happening there,
I can remember everything that was happening and I can tell everything, without forgetting details.
When you find writing on the tree, like [from] you and your loved one, this is the same.