‘Detainees and the Missing’ Art Exhibition Opens in Raqqa
The Raqqa National Museum hosted the documentary art exhibition “Detainees and the Missing” this Sunday. Organized by the “Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution” foundation, the event marks the ninth stop in an extensive tour across various Syrian governorates. The exhibition will remain open to the public for three days, providing an artistic lens into one of the most sensitive humanitarian issues within Syrian society.
Featuring approximately 200 paintings and documentary works, the exhibition is designed to reflect the diverse contexts and eras experienced by Syrians. The initiative aims to spotlight the issue of detainees and those subjected to enforced disappearance, ensuring the topic remains central to the collective memory while emphasizing calls for justice and the disclosure of the fate of the missing.
Sana Yazigi, director and founder of “Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution,” stated that the exhibition primarily seeks to embody the identity of this issue, which she described as one of the most severe humanitarian, political, and moral files. Yazigi noted that the artworks offer a comprehensive overview representing the entirety of Syrian geography, highlighting the suffering of families across all governorates.
Rimaz al-Ajaili, the engineer in charge of the Raqqa Antiquities Department, emphasized the symbolic significance of hosting the exhibition at the Raqqa National Museum. Efforts were undertaken to revive and restore the museum after it suffered destruction and looting in previous years. Al-Ajaili stated that the museum, with its historical and cultural importance, has become a monument that embodies the memory and humanitarian pulse of the governorate. She added that using art as a tool to document the cases of detainees and the missing helps shed light on the harsh conditions victims have endured.
The opening ceremony saw an emotionally charged turnout, attended by families of the missing, former detainees, and activists advocating for justice. Former detainee Riad al-Khalil spoke about the profound impact the artworks leave on visitors, asserting that art serves as a documentary and humanitarian weapon capable of embodying suffering and conveying it to the world in an creative and influential manner.
Visitor Alwan Zeaiter called for the continuation of such cultural and documentary initiatives, stressing the importance of developing institutional and legal mechanisms to ensure justice for the victims. He noted that art must remain a voice for justice, freedom, and the living Syrian memory that refuses to be forgotten.
The exhibition in Raqqa continues until October 6. It is open to the public daily from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, providing an opportunity for citizens to view works that document a critical chapter of the Syrian experience.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
