Damascus, Oct. 2 (SANA) Thirty works spanning nearly four decades of Syrian artist Enaya al-Bukhary’s career have gone on display at the National Museum of Damascus in a retrospective bringing together different stages of her work for the first time.
The Culture Ministry opened the exhibition, titled “Damascus Rhythms,” on Thursday. It runs through Oct. 31 and traces al-Bukhary’s work from 1989 to 2026, showcasing techniques ranging from watercolor and silkscreen printing to engraving, oils and mixed media.
The earliest piece dates to 1989 and uses Chinese ink on cardboard in an ink-wash technique. Other works include silkscreen prints using transparent, opaque and fluorescent inks, as well as pieces engraved on glass and mirrors dating to 1992.
The exhibition includes oil paintings, three-dimensional works and the only existing copy of a fabric mural made with plastisol printing inks.
Al-Bukhary’s newest work, completed this year, consists of five pieces that can be displayed individually or together. The full composition measures 45 centimeters high and 5 meters long.
Experimenting with form and technique
Another work, a three-piece composition, can be arranged in four configurations to produce about 74 different visual combinations using acrylic and oil paints.
Al-Bukhary described the piece as an innovative experiment and said its technique combines silkscreen printing with oil and acrylic paints. Each layer of oil paint must dry completely before another is applied to protect the silkscreen, she told SANA.
Her broader practice includes watercolor, engraving, printmaking, fluorescent and transparent colors, heat-sensitive colors, ink and oils, as well as compositions based on geometric forms and botanical elements.
Deputy Culture Minister Saad Naasan told SANA that providing exhibition space at the National Museum was part of the ministry’s efforts to support Syrian artists and provide a platform for those with long careers.
Naasan said the Syrian visual arts scene was experiencing renewed activity, describing art as a means of communication that can contribute to civil peace and strengthen connections among Syrians.
Al-Bukhary said the increased activity in Syria’s visual arts scene reflected growing momentum in the country’s artistic movement.
A member of theDamascus Rhythms, al-Bukhary has held 13 solo exhibitions in Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia, as well as exhibitions in Spain. She has taken part in group exhibitions in Tunisia and Vienna.
Her work was displayed during the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2023, and her art is held in museum collections in Qatar, France, the United States and Greece.
TS/ABD
