Syrian refugee tells her story at Ye Olde Blacksmith gallery
Stanstead has mounted an exhibit of Maa’li’s work.
Jackie Heim, the gallery’s curator, hopes the show will share Maa’li’s story and help gather support for the young artist and refugee.
“I met Maa’li in Athens in May,” said Heim. “It was my third time volunteering with refugees over there, and every time, I hear the same stories of families being torn apart. Maa’li was the same. I happened to meet her as she was in Greece visiting her daughter.”
Heim told Maa’li’s story, describing how she left Syria before the borders closed. How she, her husband Hassan and five daughters escaped to Turkey. She depicted the hostile environment Turkey was for them, facing discrimination because they are Syrian, because they are refugees.
“They could not get jobs, so they had to flee. Two of her daughter’s stayed behind because they were married and Maa’li thought they would be safe because the husbands would take care of them. They walked to Austria, travelling only at night because it was so dangerous.” Unfortunately, after 20 days of travelling, Maa’li received word that her daughter Saja, who had stayed behind in Turkey, had been abandoned by her husband and left alone. Because she had no means to support herself, she fled to Athens.
“She was smuggled to Greece on a boat,” said Heim. “But because she wasn’t a minor, she’s 20-years-old, there are no family reunification programs to
help her. She’s stuck, and it’s really, really hard on both Saja and Maa’li.”
Heim met Maa’li in Greece while she was visiting Saja, an occurrence that is extremely rare due to her refugee status.
“They told her that she would only have five days to go see Saja. After that, they would cut her income. When I talked to her, she expressed her grief. She was dreading the plane back to Austria. She said she wished she would die.”
Maa’li and Saja are extremely close, Heim explained, because Maa’li had her when she was only 17 years old.
“They are more like sisters,” she said. “She told me all this and then showed me some drawings and paintings she had done. I decided that I had to share her story. I especially wanted a woman’s perspective.”
Heim said Maa’li was happy to share her story. The exhibit includes clips of the artist singing, along with her paintings, drawings, and even poetry.
“I wanted her to write down her stories,” explained the curator. “When we translated her writing, we realized how poetic it was. They speak much more poetically than we do, all in beautiful sayings.”
One of Maa’li’ quotes expresses her need for art, and her longing for her daughter:
“When Hassan sleeps, I go into my room and put on some music, and I go into another world. I felt everything. I am feeling happy because I can do something I have wished since I am a little girl. I am 38 years old. At the same time, I feel I am sad that Saja couldn’t see me draw. I am feeling like nothing, empty.”
Heim explained how Maa’li works mostly at night, because she can’t sleep.
“She told me that every time she closes her eyes she sees the war. She hears the children screaming and crying. Telling her story gave her a sense of purpose. Knowing people are going to hear it helped her through the winter.”
The gallery sponsored Maa’li throughout the winter, having her art travel to Canada even though the artist could not.
“She wishes she were in Canada,” said Heim. “But she couldn’t leave her daughter. It’s very hard for her in Austria. Even though there’s no war there, she’s still not safe. There’s a lot of discrimination. She wears a Hijab. She’s received death threats.”
Maa’li has no idea what will happen to her daughter, or if they will ever be reunited.
“It would cost 7 000 euros to smuggle Saja illegally to Austria by boat,” deplored Heim. “Maa’li would never let that happen anyway, it’s too unsafe. She’s waiting endlessly in a limbo of grief, like so many others.”
The mother waits by painting. Her art illustrates her feelings, often depicting the moon, and starry skies.
“Maa’li told me the moon reminded her of her mother. She told me she was sitting on the balcony with her, back in Syria, and they were looking at the full moon,” recounted Heim. “Maa’li turned to her mother and said ‘This moon is like your face’, because she thought the moon was very beautiful, like her mother. That night her mom died in her sleep.”
The night sky and moon are also significant considering that Maa’li and her family had to escape during the night. The artist said that the full moon was a blessing, as it allowed them to see where they were going.
“There’s a kind of pain that makes you weak and another that makes you strong. I put my pain on the paper and I feel so comforted,” Maa’li said, regarding her artwork.
Maa’li’s art is currently on display at Ye Olde Blacksmith gallery until July 23, and will be mounted again Aug. 17 to Sept. 3. Her work will be sold at a silent auction; all the funds will go to the artist.
“It was too hard to put a price on her paintings,” said Heim. “It’s very moving. Maa’li is grateful that she is safe, but feels like a caged bird. I can only hope that people will come see the show and will feel compassion for her.”
The exhibit will also feature a book where visitors can come write messages for al Khalili. The book will be sent to her along with the funds collected.