Homeland
Poet Ghfran Alakash and visual artist Farid Abdulbaki
August 12-28, 2022
Errant Art Space is located at 975 Alston St, Victoria, BC V9A 3S5.
Poet Ghfran Alakash and visual artist Farid Abdulbaki
August 12-28, 2022
Errant Art Space is located at 975 Alston St, Victoria, BC V9A 3S5.
FINAL WEEKEND COMING UP: Saturday August 27 and Sunday August 28, 12:00 to 5:00.
Robyn Burns interview on August 24 will air on All Points West August 25, between 3-6 PM
See photos from the interview below
See photos from the interview below
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Most of us have a place in our hearts called “homeland”. The place may be real or imagined but it has the power to envelope us in a reverie of moods and emotions. Artists are skilled at evoking “homeland”. They take us to another time and place using words and images. In this way, poet Ghfran Alakash and visual artist Farid Abdulbaki present their Homeland to viewers.
This important show and sale is co-curated by Jane Coombe and Ira Hoffecker. The curators describe Homeland as an historic journey that reveals the artists' pre-war lifestyle in Syria, the beginning of unrest, and finally, the trauma of dislocation. “These artworks reflect on personal and cultural identity,” Hoffecker says, “through the lens of memory and migrations.”
This important show and sale is co-curated by Jane Coombe and Ira Hoffecker. The curators describe Homeland as an historic journey that reveals the artists' pre-war lifestyle in Syria, the beginning of unrest, and finally, the trauma of dislocation. “These artworks reflect on personal and cultural identity,” Hoffecker says, “through the lens of memory and migrations.”
During my visit to Farid and Ghfran’s home in Victoria, they shared some difficult stories and voiced concern over the situation in Ukraine. Their partnership, forged in their homeland Syria, continues in Canada while they raise their three children and plan for the future. Some of Farid’s paintings have inscriptions of Ghfran’s poems in Arabic script. This is Ghfran’s first public showing of her life-long poetic musings. Several translations of her letters and poems are included in the show, some beautifully bound in hand-made books.
During my visit to Farid and Ghfran’s home in Victoria, they shared some difficult stories and voiced concern over the situation in Ukraine. Their partnership, forged in their homeland Syria, continues in Canada while they raise their three children and plan for the future. Some of Farid’s paintings have inscriptions of Ghfran’s poems in Arabic script. This is Ghfran’s first public showing of her life-long poetic musings. Several translations of her letters and poems are included in the show, some beautifully bound in hand-made books.
Syria is located in the Middle East on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The area has a turbulent 3000-year history of commerce, trade and cultural achievements. In modern times, the civil war In Syria has killed thousands of people and displaced half the prewar population of 22 million. One of these exiled citizens is Farid Abdulbaki who graduated from the Damascus College of Fine Art in 2000. His early career included bronze and clay commissions for local museums and galleries. After leaving Syria in 2012, Abdulbaki taught ceramics and micro-mosaic at the Berlin University of the Arts. This is where he met Ira Hoffecker, who organized a sponsorship group to bring the family to Canada. Farid’s expressive watercolours of Syrian landmarks (shown below) enliven Homeland.
Bab Houd Homs, watercolour on paper, 11x15 inches
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Damascus, City Centre View, watercolour on paper, 15x20 inches.
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The ancient city of Homs dates back to the Roman era. Bab Houd Avenue leads to the Old Town area, shown with fortified walls and gate-ways leading to a covered market. The charming atmosphere of the square includes a camel with rider, a donkey pulling a cart and a horse-drawn carriage. Homs is the birthplace of both Ghfran Alakash and Farid Abdulbaki. They endured the siege of Homs in 2011 and fled Syria in 2012. This cheerful market-day scene reiterates the poignant losses of warfare.
Damascus is one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities. While studying for his Fine Art degree, Farid explored the historic churches and mosques of the area. In this watercolour we see the domed roofs and parapets of the Ancient City Centre. The red-tiled roofs of the fortified structures add a cheerful contrast to the ochre-coloured walls.
Damascus is one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities. While studying for his Fine Art degree, Farid explored the historic churches and mosques of the area. In this watercolour we see the domed roofs and parapets of the Ancient City Centre. The red-tiled roofs of the fortified structures add a cheerful contrast to the ochre-coloured walls.
Aleppo, watercolour on paper, 20x15 inches
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Ontology Dance, watercolour and ink on paper, 30x22 inches
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Farid’s paintings focus on prewar times; they are full of life, vibrancy and colour. For example, Aleppo captures the bustling city from an elevated viewpoint showing parked cars and people strolling down tree-lined avenues. In the distance, we view modern high-rise buildings mixed with the domes and spires of medieval architecture. Unfortunately, the Ancient City of Aleppo, which is a World Heritage site, was heavily damaged during the five-year conflict.
Farid reveals his playful and philosophical side in Ontology Dance. Here we have a figure in flowing robes with fish flippers for hands. A delightful collection of turtles appear to swim, fly and ride bikes in the vicinity. “Life is short,” says Farid, “we should play more and have fun while we can.”
Farid reveals his playful and philosophical side in Ontology Dance. Here we have a figure in flowing robes with fish flippers for hands. A delightful collection of turtles appear to swim, fly and ride bikes in the vicinity. “Life is short,” says Farid, “we should play more and have fun while we can.”
Farid Abdulbaki in studio, June 2022
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Ghfran Alakash and Farid Abdulbaki, June 2022
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Blue Horse, watercolour, 9x12 inches,
Ghfran’s text: “And the caravans of brides and horses are the clouds.”
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Sunflower and Butterflies, watercolour, 12x9 inches.
Ghfran’s text: “Like the first love flower is the sun in my country.”
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Good Morning, My Syria, hand-made book with calligraphy by Kathy Guthrie. Poetry by Ghfran Alakash.
Translation by Debora Alanna.
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Apology, folded paper book with calligraphy and art by Lorraine Douglas. Poetry by Ghfran Alakash.
Translation by Debora Alanna.
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Visitors to the show can view the original poem Good Morning, My Syria in Arabic script. Multi-media artist and calligrapher Kathy Guthrie reworked the translation into a hand-made book. Guthrie chose to make the book in a Japanese Ledger style, bound on the left side. Books are intimate pieces usually held in the hands, explains Guthrie. The blue paper echos Ghfran’s references to sky, streams and tears. The earth-coloured accent paper on the cover invokes Syria’s soil and vegetation.
“Let me tell you about the old alleys and shops and echo of the peddler’s voice,” writes Ghfran in her poem. She describes her country as an unforgettable and generous place, that inflicts exiles with an incurable longing. “Try as I might, I cannot imagine taking my children and living in a refugee camp,” Guthrie says. She admires Ghfran’s resilience and ability to navigate a new way of life in Canada.
“Let me tell you about the old alleys and shops and echo of the peddler’s voice,” writes Ghfran in her poem. She describes her country as an unforgettable and generous place, that inflicts exiles with an incurable longing. “Try as I might, I cannot imagine taking my children and living in a refugee camp,” Guthrie says. She admires Ghfran’s resilience and ability to navigate a new way of life in Canada.
Artist and calligrapher Lorraine Douglas is honoured to be part of Homeland and praises the curators' ingenuity. “Through Homeland, they have found a way to support two talented artists,” Douglas says, “and inform the public about Syria.” Douglas created Apology, a folded book in which Gyfran laments the lost connection with her mother. “I was emptied and terrified by the change of course and the characters of my story…” says Ghfran in her writings. Also “Sorry, nostalgia is a lie who longs for things that will not return.” Following the bird imagery in Apology, the pages open and unfold like wings. The calligraphy style is Copperplate, chosen for its elegance and clarity. The cover features brush strokes like bird wings, with the blue ink colour suggesting melancholy.
Good Morning, My Syria, by Ghfran Alakash, 30x22 inches.
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Embracing, calligraphy and art by Kathy Guthrie, 8X11 in, Translation by Debora Alanna.
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Ghfran’s letter-poem called Embracing opens with “Brother I miss you. You spread flowers that did not wither.” And ends with “The effect of the loved ones remains like a carving on a stone.” Guthrie thought about her own brothers and their lives together as children while working on this piece. To communicate the heartache of loss she wrote in a delicate, hand-lettered style, using cursive handwriting for the first word Brother. She added a dusting of yellow chalk and drew jasmine flowers with bright yellow centres.
Poet Ghfran Alakash and visual artist Farid Abdulbaki look forward to sharing their Homeland.
Errant Art Space is located at 975 Alston St, Victoria, BC V9A 3S5.
Opening is Friday August 12, 6:00- 9:00.
Exhibition continues weekends until August 28, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 to 5:00.
Errant Art Space is located at 975 Alston St, Victoria, BC V9A 3S5.
Opening is Friday August 12, 6:00- 9:00.
Exhibition continues weekends until August 28, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 to 5:00.
The capacity crowd at the Opening on August 12 rejoiced in the exuberant paintings and heartfelt poetry of the artists.
Congrats to everyone who helped to make this event a great success!
Congrats to everyone who helped to make this event a great success!
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Web Design and Content by Kate Cino Arts writer published in Focus on Victoria, Yam and Boulevard. History in Art degree and Public Relations certificate from the University of Victoria This website and its content is copyright of Art Openings, 2009. All rights reserved. Written permission is required for reproduction of photos or text. [email protected] 250 598-4009 |
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