The artist Kais Salman at the Damascus branch of the Ayyam Gallery, which has outposts in Beirut and London. The Damascus gallery is now being used as studio space.
Khaled Samawi, the founder of Ayyam Gallery, said he was proud to see so many Syrian artists showing in Beirut. “The Syrian art scene is probably more vibrant today in Beirut than it ever was in Damascus,” he said. From June until August his galleries in Beirut and Dubai will host “Syria’s Apex Generation,” showcasing six contemporary artists.
“It is good to see something nice coming out of Syria,” Mr. Samawi said. “While all the history is being demolished and wiped out, the culture is actually being maintained by galleries and collectors throughout the world.”
