A stunning and deeply personal art exhibition by a group of Syrian women artists who fled the conflict in their homeland is on display in Melbourne’s CBD.

The exhibition titled ‘Amal’, which means ‘hope’ in Arabic features 28 works that explore the refugee experience as well as the rich culture and traditions of Syria. It is on display at Queen Victoria Women’s Centre until September 23.

It was facilitated by Melbourne Syrian women’s group ‘Zenobia’ which helps newly arrived migrant and refugee women navigate their new lives in Australia.

The not-for-profit organisation ‘Zanobia’ is supporting women, particularly from Arabic-speaking backgrounds establish new lives in a new society.

The group’s programs provide advice and information on a range of important aspects of life in Australia including: vaccinations and COVID-19, mental health, Centrelink services, aged care, and the health and education systems.

Zenobia founder Norma Medawar said the exhibition was part of the group’s programs aimed at helping women connect with Australian society.

“The theme of the exhibition is about the war in Syria; people fleeing, devastating, fear, and all emotion refugees felt when they left Syria and resettled in a new world,” Norma said.

“But it also carries the hope that is always there; that the artists have been able to resume their passion for art,” she said.

“Our role at Zenobia is to support the women artists and encourage them to start working again to help them feel they are acknowledged and recognised here in Australia,” Norma said.

Among the artists exhibited are:

Ram Kadrou, a 26 year old Syrian artist inspired by her experience of war, and her search for asylum and refuge.

Nancy Baza, a graphic design student and artist who has a fine arts qualification from Damascus University. Ms Baza uses her love of drawing to showcase Syria, capturing the beauty of Damascus, and its rich history and culture. She finds peace in drawing, and painting portraits.

Nouha Saigh fell in love with art at the age of four, she remembers learning to draw by copying faces from newspapers and magazines. Nouha uses bright colours to spread her message of hope.

Marie Afram has been an artist since she was a child, painting has been her passion since she can remember. Marie has exhibited and published her work widely, and has completed a Diploma in Fine Art, and an Advanced Diploma of Creative Product Development. She says she has continued to evolve, experimenting in both style and method and is passionate about expressing herself through art; painting what she sees, and communicating in her own medium.

Wjdan Kanafani, from Damascus, Syria, is about eighty years old. Wjdan has spent her life working, and raising children. When she arrived in Melbourne she wanted to resume drawing. She commenced a visual art course at Chisholm and graduated at the beginning of 2022. Wjdan draws everything that is beautiful and takes her inspiration from nature. She has participated in a number of exhibitions.

Claire Al Lahaham was born in Damascus, Syria in 1995. Since completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) in 2017 her art has been exhibited, mainly in Syria where she has won several prizes. In her recent work, Fog of War, Ms Al Lahaham seeks to expose a delicate equilibrium between a sense of balance and visual calm, and the tumult of painterly texture and surface tension.

Seham Alyousef has, from a young age, had a passion for art. Prior to moving to Australia in 2018 she exhibited in galleries overseas. Seham has a particular interest in traditional culture.

Read more about the exhibition: Happenings — Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (qvwc.org.au)

Read more about Zenobia here: AMES News