A new exhibition has opened at Alserkal Avenue that puts Syrian voices front and centre. “Summer Collective: Wavering Hope” runs at Ayyam Gallery until September 5, 2025, marking the gallery’s 20th anniversary.
The group show brings together Syrian artists who have lived through over two decades of conflict, displacement, and political unrest. Some remained in cities and towns across Syria. Others went into exile. But all the works in this exhibition speak to a common need — to document what they experienced and what it meant to live through it.
View this post on Instagram
The artists explore the country’s transformation over the years, particularly around the fall of the Assad regime. Their pieces reflect the complex emotions tied to a homeland shaped by both loss and the possibility of renewal. As the exhibition title suggests, hope — in this case — is not simple or absolute.
The works vary in tone and technique:
- Elias Izoli paints powerful scenes referencing kidnappings and torture
- Thaier Helal uses his canvases for political commentary and visual resistance
- Othman Moussa takes a satirical look at cultural absurdities and political realities
View this post on Instagram
Together, these works form a layered portrait of the Syrian experience, asking viewers to engage with stories of survival, memory, and uncertain hope.
If you’re planning to explore more cultural spaces around the city, don’t miss Dubai’s Museum of the Future, which recently launched its unlimited-entry summer pass — valid through the end of September.
