STATUS: Current Exhibition
Running until 5 September 2025
Marking nearly two decades of championing Syrian contemporary art, Ayyam Gallery’s latest summer collective, Wavering Hope, surveys the psychological and cultural aftermath of conflict through the eyes of multiple artists. It is a captivating exhibition that navigates the fragile line between resilience and despair.
The collection on display features extraordinary artworks that vividly embody the complexities of hope, illuminating how it can thrive even amidst the most daunting circumstances. Each piece tells a story, showcasing the strength of the human spirit and the beauty of survival. The selection includes names such as Khaled Takreti, Tamman Azzam, Elias Izoli, Mohannad Orabi and Safwan Dahoul, each contributing deeply personal and politically resonant pieces. Their works span a variety of styles, from mixed media to abstract figurations, and tackle themes of displacement, repression, memory and loss. The gallery, although small, maintains a stark and focused curation. However, the space at times feels underutilised, with walls that could have held more works to amplify the narrative depth of the show. This sparseness leaves the viewer wanting more, not in emotional impact, but in visual density.
Some pieces stand out for their execution and poignancy. Elias Izoli’s sombre portraits, veiled in shades of melancholy, address the trauma of kidnapping and systemic violence, evoking a deep sense of empathy. Another notable artist is Abdul-Karim Majdal Al-Beik, who utilises found objects and unconventional materials to give his work a raw, tactile quality. Everyday fragments such as reclaimed wood, torn fabric, and rusted metal become vessels of memory and metaphor, embodying the physical remnants of war and the emotional impact it leaves behind. Mohannad Orabi’s distorted faces, caught in moments of emotional ambiguity, act as testaments to the unseen terrors of war. Kais Salman’s blood-tinged gestural work and Nihaad Al-Turk’s brutal, symbolic landscapes hint at a surreal, almost dreamlike understanding of devastation.
The exhibition arrives at a symbolic moment. As the gallery approaches its 20th anniversary and Syria enters a new chapter post-sanctions, it’s a time for reflection. It acknowledges that even in moments of transformation, resolution is not guaranteed. The show does not attempt to resolve trauma but offers instead a space for contemplation, inviting the audience to ponder the complexities of the Syrian conflict. The title Wavering Hope feels apt, not only as a nod to endurance, but as a descriptor of the emotional oscillation embedded in the artworks themselves.
Ultimately, Wavering Hope reaffirms Ayyam Gallery’s longstanding commitment to platforming Syrian voices, not only as survivors of conflict but as active participants in shaping cultural memory. In doing so, it offers a sobering, if fractured, portrait of hope in the aftermath and urges viewers to continue supporting these voices.
For more information or to book, visit the Ayyam Gallery website here.
Photo Credit: Mersa Auda.
— Mariam Khawer
