Damascus July 11 (SANA)Damascus opened a contemporaryart exhibitionon Friday bringing together Syrian artists living in Syria and abroad, in an initiative aimed at strengthening cultural ties and highlighting the diversity of Syria’s visual arts scene.

The exhibition, “Damascus Unites US,” features works by 34 artists and is jointly organized by Samer Qazah Gallery inDamascusand Urbanist Art Gallery in Dubai. It presents paintings, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, installation art and digital works.

The event seeks to reconnect Syrian artists working inside the country with their counterparts abroad while showcasing artistic practices shaped by different cultural experiences.

Wasim Abdul Hamid, director of the Fine Arts Directorate, said the exhibition reflects the Culture Ministry’s efforts to expand cooperation with private galleries and support the participation of Syrian artists living abroad in exhibitions held in Syria. He added that the ministry plans to launch an annual exhibition based on the same concept at the National Center for Visual Arts.

Organizer Samer Qazah said the exhibition traces 15 years of developments in Syrian visual art by bringing together established and contemporary artistic practices. Amjad Maliki, founder of Urbanist Art Gallery, said the exhibition will remain open for three months, with works rotated periodically before the exhibition travels to Dubai in the same format.

Among the participating artists, Shatha Midani presents “Dream,” a work exploring the human experiences of Syrians, while Raneem Al-Halaqi exhibits part of her research project inspired by traditional Syrian textiles and themes of memory and belonging.