Happy to share the November Issue of the #RisoClub – the Damascus Edition!
A pack of 4 #risograph prints curated by Kinda Ghannoum in collaboration with the creatives Besher Alyoussef, Nadine Ghannoum, Leen Alb, Ranim Halaky, and Rama Duwaji, showcasing a piece of their Damascus in print. Together, we celebrate the beauty of Syrian architecture, nostalgia, and culture.
Thank you Risotto Studio for this invitation
A pack of 4 #risograph prints curated by Kinda Ghannoum in collaboration with the creatives Besher Alyoussef, Nadine Ghannoum, Leen Alb, Ranim Halaky, and Rama Duwaji, showcasing a piece of their Damascus in print. Together, we celebrate the beauty of Syrian architecture, nostalgia, and culture.
Thank you Risotto Studio for this invitation
____ Kinda Ghannoum & Nadine Ghannoum
Growing up in Syria in an artistic family surrounded by the beauty of Damascus's architecture and the rich Syrian culture, you see patterns and ornaments everywhere in clothing, buildings, tiles, furniture, and even on plates. These details are always present wherever you look, and being far away, we find ourselves longing for those familiar sights. Yet, we've come to realize that no matter where we are, the essence of Damascus and Syria remains a part of us, guiding our path forward.
____Besher Alyoussef
As someone who was born and raised in Damascus, this interpretation/illustration is my attempt to show how symbolic and reflective these different but very distinctive buildings and structures are of the city's and the country's rich but convoluted history. Moreover, it reflects my personal and complex history and connection to that place.
____Leen Albaz & Ranim Halaky
Inspired by the common longing for home that we feel, the design delves into the essence of a nostalgic feeling to our home country that we are far away from. The artwork on the postcard serves as a visual dialogue between two Syrian expats living outside of Syria, symbolizing a profound reflection of their memories and cultural ties to their homeland. It captures the essence of longing and yearning for a connection with their roots. The illustrations featured in the artwork are inspired by patterns found on the thin summer blanket: an item present in almost every Syrian household that holds a deep nostalgic value to the designers. The typographic message, drawn from a poem by renowned Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, translates to "My homeland, a poem of fire and roses." Qabbani’s verse encapsulates the complex emotions of a love/hate relationship with the designers’ homeland, expressing the yearning to return to Syria despite the inability to do so.
____Rama Duwaji
My memories of Damascus are always accompanied by the sweet smell of Jasmine flowers. During my summers spent there, I would sit in my grandparent's garden for hours making necklaces and bouquets out of the flora they grew. My grandmother would put the bouquets I made her in little cups of water and the whole house would be filled with the smells of Jasmines. Now that I don’t go back to Syria as often, I still find myself looking for bushes of Jasmine in foreign streets, hoping that they smell as good as the ones back home.
THANK YOU!
