The crude violence perpetrated by the regime has succeeded in turning the vibrant cities of Syria, into desolate piles of rubble. Civil activists have taken upon themselves to counter the regime’s destruction, through street art. Al-Sahra (the Desert, in Arabic) stand among such initiatives, by bringing life and color to otherwise dull, grey scale walls.
“This is a small campaign from the heart of Douma. We want to tackle the greyness that has overtaken our city, and to dust off the years of war and fatigue and show a different face: that of a Douma that is besieged yet standing fast,” explain the activists behind the campaign in an interview with SyriaUntold.
Starting in March 2014, the team took their paint and brushes to the city’s walls. Their paintings are peppered with slogans from the revolution that aim to give hope to the inhabitants and to remind them, after three long years, of the earlier days of the revolution. Perhaps most poignantly are the “Be patient, country” paintings that blend that sigh of fatigue and weariness of war with an unmistakable sense of perseverance.
The messages from the besieged, to the besieged, attempt to broach the people’s unconscious and to protect itself, as much as others, from their moments of weakness: “Be yourself, for there are many others like you.” In another mural, a woman is seen giving water to a weary desert, in a most striking symbol of rejuvenation in the face of war, and adeptly subtitled: “Revolution is feminine.”
Legendary Egyptian poet Amal Donqol is also featured on the walls of Douma. His most brilliant and celebrated poem of resistance finds a fitting place for its opening verse on the worn bricks of the city:
Do not reconcile… Even if they granted you gold. What if they gouged out your eyes, And then placed two jewels instead, Would you be able to see? There are things that cannot be purchased.
The group’s latest work is an art film called “Don’t Let the Illusion Fool You”, documenting one of its murals: a bird breaking out of its cage to the free skies above. As if to say: don’t let the illusion of oppression fool you, freedom will break all cages.
Today, after bombardment and war have taken its toll on the city, Douma awakes to the sight of vivid graffiti covering its destroyed walls. As if it is telling the world, colors will always conquer darkness, and our impenetrable hope will prevail over despair.
