Controversial Syrian artist asks What If? in Scots project
A GERMAN-Syrian artist, whose work about the Syrian conflict has caused controversy, is to unveil a new work in Scotland which will imagine life if the Ottoman Empire had thrived and divided Europe.
Manaf Halbouni’s work Monument, saw three buses propped up vertically in front of the Frauenkirche church in Dresden, Germany just a week before the 72nd anniversary of the start of the infamous 1945 Allied air raids on the city.
The art work, drawing links between the destruction of Dresden and Aleppo, was revealed to turbulent scenes – with protesters and supporters jostling each other in a large crowd in the city centre.
Now Mr Halbouni is to work as an artist in residence in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, as part of the ongoing, awardwinning work of Deveron Projects.
His new work, What If? is to turn the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement – a secret deal between Britain and France dividing up spheres of influence in the Middle East – “on its head” in a work which will present a parallel history of Europe, in which the Ottoman Empire does not end in 1922.
The idea behind the work is: “What if it had been the Ottoman Empire/Arab world which had prevailed and it was Europe that had been divided up?”
The artist said: “My project reacts to a time when many people from the ArabMiddle Eastern world are confronted with conflicts resulting from the colonial and post-colonial era.
“Wars, conflicts and the resulting migration to Europe compel us to explore and explain our rarely questioned history.
“What If? also comes at a time when the idea of Europe is being called into question.
“After Brexit and the question of the role of Scotland in Europe, Huntly, with its own military history, offers an ideal background for a series of ‘What if?‘ scenarios.”
As is common in other projects by artists in the north east town, Halbouni will work with the people of Huntly on the project, including refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria.
Clauda Zeiske, director of Deveron Projects, said: “We are delighted to welcome Manaf to Huntly particularly as our area has already welcomed many refugees from the conflict in Syria.
“The impact of the secret Sykes-Picot Agreement on the Middle East shouldn’t be underestimated.”