Buthayna Ali

Born in Damascus, Buthayna Ali studied fine arts at the University of Damascus, then moved to Paris where she obtained a Diploma in painting from the Superior National School of Fine Arts of Paris and a Masters degree in History of Islamic Art from Paris IV Sorbonne University. Currently, Buthayna teaches studio art as a faculty member in the School of Fine Arts at University of Damascus. As an artist, Buthayna’s work focuses on her milieu and its inconsistencies. She uses abstraction to bring her audience closer to the work. Thematically, she focuses on contradictions in society and nation states. Using images, signs and objects, she critiques the socio-political dimensions of imposed cultural conventions. By using abstraction she is trying to bring her audience closer to the work and in order to create opportunities for audience interactions.
 

Al-Bustan invited Buthayna Ali for an artist residency in summer 2017 to create new work in Philadelphia.  However, confusion about President Trump’s travel ban stymied her application for a visa to America.  Read article in Philadelphia Inquirer, written by Michael Matza.
 

I feel that we belong to countries which shoot us to other places.

Shooting people is a way to fly, but eventually they all come back down in some way or another.
Even though they chose to be shot out…
Does everyone feel the freedom of flying?
Can we feel this freedom of flight while we are leaving our memories behind?
Can we keep it there and be in another place?
And start from “zero”, as they say.
Does “zero” exist?

I focused on the Arab countries and how these countries shoot out their citizens like stones.
Uproot them from difficult conditions that they create, from their memories, from their histories…and these people hope to have the freedom from these heavy conditions.
Do they really feel it?
Many questions enter my mind… and many wh(y)s?
SO…WH(Y)?

The sizes of slingshots related to the size of their countries.
The rubber would reflect the migration rate. “I researched migration over the last 10 years. I want to reflect a time period in my life”
Concrete is the material of our buildings and our walls which separate us.
It gives us a cold feeling like those countries.
Which country will give us this cold feeling? The one who shoots us out or the one who receives us?
So…Who & WH(Y)?”

In honoring Buthayna Ali’s inability to come to Philadelphia, Al-Bustan invited her to participate in the project virtually while in Damascus. She spoke about her work via video conference call and prompted workshop participants in making their own art inspired by one of her projects titled “Examples.” Below are images from the workshop held on June 22 at Perry World House.