CRAFTS OF SYRIA

At a time when traditional manual crafts are disappearing across the Islamic world, it is vital to record the manufacturing practices, daily lives, and rituals of skilled artisans. The practitioners of manual crafts continue to be pressured by industrial production and globalized trade. Political instability and social change bring their own challenges. These factors are particularly acute in Syria. The ongoing civil war (2011-present) has had catastrophic consequences for its inhabitants, causing countless deaths. Millions have been internally displaced, while the flight beyond the borders of Syria has created a refugee crisis. In many areas of the country the built environment and infrastructure lie in ruins. Many of the monuments … Read More