What is the fate of art in Syria after the fall of Assad? New surprises!

The UAE agency “Blinx” published a new report in which it spoke about the reality of art in Syria with the new administration of government, following the fall of the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al -Assad on December 8, 2024.

The report reveals that since the fall of the Assad regime, artists and intellectuals in the country face new challenges related to freedom of expression and cultural practices.

These challenges vary between the restrictions imposed on cultural institutions, and the guidance of individuals affiliated with the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al -Sham, which raised the concerns of workers in the technical and academic field.

According to the report, “after the fall of the Bashar al -Assad regime, the cultural scene in Syria witnessed radical transformations that have caused anxiety between artists and intellectuals.” He added: “One of the most prominent of these changes is the amendment of the curricula by the transition Scientific theories such as the theory of evolution and the theory of the great explosion from the curricula of science, in addition to removing content related to the ancient history of Syria and the role of women in the country.

The report stated that “these amendments raised the concerns of intellectuals in Syria, as some considered them an indication of the educational system’s transformation towards more reservation and militancy.”

Artists in Syria live in a state of general concern after the fall of the Assad regime and the arrival of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al -Sham to power, especially with regard to art and the participation of women in work and public freedoms.

Speaking to “Blinx”, Dr. Waddah Salama, a teacher at the Cultural Institute of Applied Arts in the Damascus Castle, confirms that the fears of the people of art are legitimate, especially since the violations of art started immediately after the fall of the regime

On the next day, the institute was exposed to a theft that included all its equipment, and student tools, employees and teachers were burned.

Not only that, the Institute of Antiquities was completely burned, but fortunately, the institute’s departments were not burned, despite being broken and sabotaged, and adds: “After a week of these events, we went back to the time, and we – and students – clean the departments and rehabilitate them To be ready to resume the study. ”

Interventions in the course of the educational process

Salama talks about an incident with him while giving him one of the lessons, as one of the people who work as guards entered him at the castle door, calling on him, and politely, to separate the students from the students, according to what he says.

And when he asked him about what is meant, the man explained: “Young men and girls, you are your role in the department, and we will take care of the matter abroad.” His response came: “I am sorry, but I do not allow anyone to interfere in my lesson. I give it in my own way, and this is Syria if you do not know, and these students were raised well by their families, and I do not allow anyone to interfere in their affairs. ”

The doctor continued, “The person was silent, then he apologized and went out, but the next day I was surprised that the students entered the castle while the male students were waiting abroad, while one of the professors came to allow them to enter.”

Also, she was also surprised that “one of the professors was wandering among students in the park to ask them not to approach each other and not smoking.”

Interventions affect cultural and artistic institutions

Reports indicate that this is not an individual case, but rather comes within a series of measures that aim to impose a new type of censorship on cultural and artistic activities in Syria.

According to multiple sources, the body responsible for these interventions replace the guards every week, which raises questions about the extent of its influence and its impact on the cultural sector.

Fine artists also face increasing restrictions, as the Ministry of Culture, the Directorate of Arts and the Fine Artists Union, the institutions that sponsor plastic art in the country, frozen.

Salama notes that the official response from the Ministry of Culture of the Institute was positive, as it announced its categorical rejection of such practices, saying: “This speech is not acceptable and completely rejected, and we will communicate with the authority, and you must also not allow any behavior of this kind to affect Your teaching style. ”

However, the response of the ministry did not dispel the fears of students, teachers and those concerned with art and culture in Syria, according to safety, especially since the side conversations among students confirm their exposure to verbal harassment all the time.

Mystery and harassment of intellectuals

Syria is going through a stage of deep changes at the cultural level, as technical institutions are living in a state of ambiguity due to the new policies. While some parties are trying to preserve the artistic scene, many artists express their concerns that these changes will restrict freedom of creativity and expression.

This ambiguity prompted a plastic artist to postpone the idea of ​​preparing an exhibition for her artistic paintings, especially since fears are increasing day after another and not less.

The artist, who preferred- did not publish her name- in her interview with “Bennix”, stated that there are conversations taking place in the cultural milieu, confirming that some artists and artists were subjected to harassment of the Headquarters for the Headquarters for the Liberation Fine with its various arts.

On the other hand, Rola Suleiman, the owner of a technical Gallery in Damascus, tells her what she called a “polite orientation visit” from one of the authority’s followers, as he came to her “Gallery” and demanded that she not display sculptures and nude paintings, because they are “unwanted”, but they are She refused his request, saying: “The sculptures are one of the oldest Syrian arts, in addition to the facts that I show are not inspired, but rather are merely artistic symbolism.” Then he invited him to attend their upcoming shows, but he did not attend.

Speaking to “Bennix”, Rola believes that things in the capital, Damascus, are relatively better compared to the rest of the provinces, but she is still following with concern what is going on around her.

Nevertheless, Suleiman expresses her concern about what she sees on social media: “I live in Damascus and sometimes travel to Beirut, but I am following the stories of people on Facebook and notice what is happening with them.”

Between the orders of the lion and the strictness of the body

During the rule of Bashar al -Assad, the intellectuals faced harassment, especially with regard to organizing cultural activities such as reading or holding artistic exhibitions.

Rola Suleiman asserts that there are obstacles that were facing in the shadow of the previous regime, but they were not related to sculpture or nudity in artistic paintings, but were limited to paper procedures, because the regime was afraid of any cultural activities.

Suleiman is afraid of the next stage, asking: “In the previous regime, I was able to hold these exhibitions despite the difficulties. Will I now be allowed to organize other events?” (Blinx)