- Title: Homesick Syrian refugee creates intricate wooden miniatures of Damascus
- Date: 27th December 2016
- Summary: ZARQA, JORDAN (DECEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOHAI AL DEEN QASEM WORKING VARIOUS OF QASEM ADDING DETAIL TO HIS ART WORK VARIOUS OF EQUIPMENT VARIOUS OF QASEM WORKING ON HOUSE HE CREATED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE, MOHAI AL DEEN QASEM, SAYING: "When the idea came to me it was from the memory of longing. I used to always imagine Damascus and its neighbourhoods and I was determined not to abandon the place I was sitting at until I finish doing this job. I had an idea to create one of Damascus' neighbourhoods, bringing it to me and (so I) can look at it on a daily basis. From that idea, thank God, I managed to do something from inside of me to express my feelings through this artwork." VARIOUS OF SYRIAN HOME CREATED BY QASEM AMMAN, JORDAN (DECEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF QASEM PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON HIS DAMASCENE NEIGHBOURHOOD ARTWORK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE, MOHAI AL DEEN QASEM, SAYING: "Initially I was using my feelings and yearning for it (the Damascus neighbourhood) to try to showcase it on the wall. Later I realised all the people around me, my friends and all the people who saw it wanted to own it in their house. People were offering me a high price (for it) so I decided to sell it and establish, God willing, a workshop in Amman that has suitable equipment to work on such pieces. I want to start creating artworks of Jordanian attractions and ancient sites." VARIOUS OF DAMASCENE NEIGHBOURHOOD ON DISPLAY ZARQA, JORDAN (DECEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) QASEM LEAVING HIS HOME
- Embargoed: 11th January 2017 12:10
- Keywords: Amman Zarqa Jordan Syria war memory art wood Mohai al Deen Qasem
- Location: ZARQA AND AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: ZARQA AND AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Art,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ENQ1CL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Syrian man who sorely misses his home after fleeing four years ago has turned his anguish into art.
Mohai al Deen Qasem, a former landscaper and outdoor decorator, is from the neighbourhood of al Maydan in the Syrian capital of Damascus.
He says he was so homesick, he felt an urge to translate his sentiments into a piece of art that would reflect his nostalgic emotions about his home.
"When the idea came to me it was from the memory of longing. I used to always imagine Damascus and its neighbourhoods and I was determined not to abandon the place I was sitting at until I finish doing this job. I had an idea to create one of Damascus' neighbourhoods, bringing it to me and (so I) can look at it on a daily basis. From that idea, thank God, I managed to do something from inside of me to express my feelings through this artwork," Qasem told Reuters TV.
Qasem uses styrofoam to fashion his models in order to bring the structure to life.
"Initially I was using my feelings and yearning for it (the Damascus neighbourhood) to try to showcase it on the wall. Later I realised all the people around me, my friends and all the people who saw it wanted to own it in their house," he added.
Qasem says he has been encouraged to turn his passion into a business after people started offering to buy his pieces.
"People were offering me a high price (for it) so I decided to sell it and establish, God willing, a workshop in Amman that has suitable equipment to work on such pieces," he said.
The father of five says he now wants to focus on depicting famous Jordanian attractions.
So far, Qasem has received JD5,000 (approximately US7,000 dollars) for his work but is hopeful demand for his pieces will grow - drawing on his past to help him in the present. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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