A RUBBLE-STREWN Syrian bombsite is to be recreated in a Scottish city in an “experimental” artwork, it has emerged.
Damascus-born Manaf Halbouni is to transform part of Glasgow into a scene from his war-torn home nation as part of this year’s Refugee Festival Scotland.
Titled Rubble Theatre, the piece will be made of broken bricks and rubble as busy St Enoch Square becomes an open-air art experience, where an “abandoned” car packed with belongings will be in place for the seven-day run.
Berlin-based Halbouni was inspired by images from Syria, where conflict broke in 2011.
The fighting arose when government forces moved to end pro-democracy demonstrations that were inspired by the “Arab Spring” movement in neighbouring nations.
Armed opposition groups took up arms against security forces and the conflict spread around the nation, before the war intensified with the rise of jihadist groups and the direct involvement of foreign actors like Russia and Turkey.
The eight-year long war has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and mass displacement of people, fuelling the international refugee crisis as an estimated 6 million sought safety abroad.
Halbouni has called the Glasgow project a “huge experiment” as it will be created on a “very small” budget. He said: “I was amazed by pictures of the war in Syria that showed people trying to keep on creating art and culture among the rubble and destruction of the war. I saw a photograph of a piano player sitting among total devastation in a Palestinian refugee camp, and another of children in a camp playing with puppets.
“I thought how amazing it would be to recreate this in a European city. I want to give people an idea of what it’s like to see your city destroyed and yet, to keep on trying to live well and to keep on trying to create.”
Rubble Theatre will launch on June 20, which is World Refugee Day, and marks the opening of Refugee Festival Scotland. Its producer Soizig Carey said the team is “really proud” to be bringing the artist to Glasgow, adding: “The theme of this year’s festival, Making Art, Making Home, showcases the creativity and strength required to rebuild a sense of home in an insecure and often hostile environment.
“This year, around 4000 people sought refugee protection in Scotland. The festival gives audiences the chance to say welcome to people who have recently arrived in Scotland and to show friendship and solidarity.”
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