Art Dubai: Syria Calling at the Art Dubai Modern Symposium

Elias Zayat's mural Deluge: The God's Abandon Palmyra. Courtesy of Elias Zayat
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As one of the most important exhibitions of Syrian modern and contemporary art opens in Alserkal Avenue in the Concrete building tomorrow, it is worth mentioning that one of the star artists from that show Elias Zayat will be talking about his work Deluge: The Gods Abandon Palmyra as part of Art Dubai's Modern Symposium.

“In light of exhibitions such as one staged at the Aga Khan Museum focused on Syrian art as well as organisations being set up to promote art from Syria such as the Atassi Foundation, the symposium looks towards the work of a modernist living in Damascus as well as an institution working towards safeguarding Syrian art,” says Myrna Ayad, director of Art Dubai. “It is important that a country is not perceived solely as a conflict-ridden nation, but rather as one that has and continues to contribute to the narratives surrounding art from the region. It is also interesting to get the viewpoint of a modernist who has lived and worked in Syria for decades and who is a witness of the cultural scene in its early days.”

* Syria Calling takes place at 12.30pm, Saturday March 18, Concrete, Alserkal Avenue. Panelists include: Henry Kim, Director, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto and Elias Zayat.

For the full line up of talks and sessions at Art Dubai's Modern Symposium, visit the website