War Culture

Memory / 27 February 2013

 Taken at Aleppo / le Pont Gallery

 

On February 14 ( Valentine day ) was not meeting day between the lovers, was Dead meeting between the 2 Armies , this time we feel its more dangerous for the civilians ,for the first time this war looks more serious , every one is Busy , Army running every direction , and no one smile any more , its look like big movement maybe in the direction to End Aleppo war , after almost 2 weeks from valentine , war become so heavy for city of Aleppo Voice and Bombing , Alarms of the cars working by him self and mix with bombing voices in empty streets , Army and Oppositions trying there best to win , but for sure We as Civilians we do not have any correct information about who will be the winner .
Between all this mass when we have a short time to meet , our daily war news always mix with our good memory of Aleppo City , the proud Aleppians with the Intellectuals and Artist , still in the city ,dreams about the good times and worry to lost our Secular life .

Today Opening of Memory Exhibitions ( 27 February 2013) its not even 1% from what we are Seeing and thinking and talking every day between each others … and its so far from what snappish media try to sell to us and to world …… also very far from the Cultural some foundations and Human organization point of view , who are very busy to push side to kill more other 2 sides ..
Memory Exhibition : its personal story’s if its come together will build story of our City and our Society , and will help to Clear our step for our Future , by talk to each other and works .

Artists Name : Aghyad Shekho , Nayiri Dikranian , Nouh Ammar Hammami , Nathalie Kardjian , Saeed Al Hammad , Nazem Jawesh , Omar Khayata , Hagop Vanesian , Issa Touma , Laure Kurdy , Jalal Mawlawi .

This activity Run with Nouh World

ISSA TOUMA 27 February 2013

  
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.337447949706246.1073741825.285007934950248&type=3

An Artist’s Tale

 

This is some heartily words about An Artist, a friend and most of all a Human, this is a statement about 

Issa Touma.

I met Issa Touma back at early 2008, he left such an impression that I registered into a photography course he tutored in His Gallery, by time, I had the chance to discover more about Issa and we became Friends more than being just tutor/Student.

I thought of writing this now only because NOW the real character of Issa Touma was clear in front of my eyes, as everybody know, Issa is a one daring character, back during 2008 when I met him he used to tell me stories of him getting annoyed and boycotted by the Government, he told this stories to me as well as many people who visited his Gallery Frequently, back then I was listening to him with kind of Coy manners, for I was shocked to hear that someone could be this daring and talk about such sensitive issues so casually, when we used to be alone I warned him to avoid this kind of conversations, for I didn’t want him to get arrested for his open mouth.

On Early 2011, Syrian Crisis started to RISE, I kept visiting Issa, and deep Inside I knew that for many people and Agencies he will be a hit, for he was the kind of person who will never shut up for what he believes is wrong and not righteous, but this time, he kept Silent, said no words, took a corner and watched the ongoing events. He received many calls and invitations for interviews, many of them took place when I was in the Gallery. But he said no word, he apologized very politely saying, that the vision about the reality wasn’t clear yet to talk about it. Later, and step by step he started to form an image about the true story of the street, but by then, he discovered that it is better to work instead of to talk to media, he created what is called the “Art Camping” with some of his friends and gathered a young network, me one of this member and encouraged them to direct their power to something brighter than WAR, he thought that Curing the patient is far more important than trying to awaken the dead. He worked Hard, many times we were in the gallery when the gun shots were heard, Issa calmed us down with his cool attitude and in a minute we started to mock ourselves and lough out loud for being extremely terrified.

Today Issa is still in Aleppo, the city that was known for its nice atmosphere, foods, gatherings, and is now the city of shelling, death, murder and Hunger. Issa refused to leave the town; he believed he had a better mission to accomplish while staying in Aleppo than leaving it. He knew he will watch the reality better with his mere eyes…  Issa lost his House; most of his friends are gone, he survived sniper shots several times. Yet STAYED because he BELIEVED that only with being close one can do good deed to the country and the people…

I thought of writing this because I never got the chance to express my feelings towards the REAL ISSA TOUMA, which I formed after I left town and watched his actions from out of the circle, I love you my friend, wish most of our Artists thought like you, wish I had thought like you, I am sure that we would had been in a better place living a better life.