Through documentation and archives, we keep our stories alive and true. At the book launch of Detainees & Disappeared, we discussed the importance of documentation in its many forms. In the case of this book, documentation also happens through art. It is one of the ways people express their experiences, preserve their memories, and reflect on their lives.
In partnership with the Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution, we launched Detainees & Disappeared, a book that traces the Syrian Revolution through stories and testimonies expressed in art and culture.
The evening was chaired by Malu Halasa, a writer and editor based in London, who led the discussion with guests on the panel including Kholoud Helmi, Waad Al Kataeb, and Sana Yazigi. Each of these remarkable women showed us what it means to be courageous and to stand by your people and your country.
Whether it is graffiti, an artwork in a museum, or a visual shared on social media, every creative expression holds equal importance for the Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution. Sana Yazigi spoke about the importance of preserving these works and the stories they carry about the revolution, the pain, and the struggles of the Syrian people.
We also learned how documentation can take the form of film through Waad Al Kataeb and her documentaries, especially her award-winning For Sama. She reflected on how surviving the war never meant losing her camera or her voice, and how filmmaking became a way of bearing witness to her experiences.
Kholoud Helmi spoke about her work as the co-founder and managing editor of Enab Baladi, reflecting on the resilience of both herself and the newspaper in continuing to share the stories of Syrians. She also highlighted the importance of remembering those who were disappeared or martyred during the years of war, reminding us that, as she said, “they are not numbers”. They are people who had their own lives, stories, smiles, and loved ones.
At the end of the event, questions were opened to the audience. It is always deeply moving to reflect on the past fifteen years of Syria and what has happened there, whether for Syrians or anyone who continues to hold Syria close to their heart.
About the author: Riyad Khouri is a dancer and designer, currently completing an MA in Curating Cultures at SOAS University of London. At the time of writing, he is a Curatorial Intern at the Arab British Centre.
You can purchase a copy of the book from the Arab British Centre.
Please email us at info@arabbritishcentre.org.uk.