The emigration of Yemeni plastic artists outside the country.. A search for a new homeland and spiritual peace
English - Wednesday 30 June 2021 الساعة 09:14 am
NewsYemen, Muhammed Abdo Al Shuja:
From the poets of the diaspora to the brain drain to the displacement of cadres and the recruitment of successful people to the Yemeni “migration of plastic artists” in recent years... the Yemeni cultural scene is experiencing a major setback at all levels, due to the current exceptional circumstances, imposed by the de-facto authority and the war that has been going on since 2015.
The art of formation was one of the most important arts that formed a presence during the past decades, and the ceiling of ambitions was greater, before the situation reached its complete death under difficult economic conditions.
We tried to investigate the causes and motives of the emigration phenomenon and the future of “formation” in Yemen. We came out firmly from the opinions that differed, but they were unanimously agreed that there was a dilemma that imposed this frightening scene.
The effect of the war is clear
In the context of seeking to know the nature of the phenomenon as well as the impact of the situation on the art of formation, we stop with the professor. Ahmed Al-Aghbari and an important opinion of a writer and journalist familiar with the scene. He touched on important points:
“Perhaps the plastic art in Yemen is the field of creative work most affected by the repercussions of the current war, because this art, like all arts, depended, to a major degree, on stability and peace in the pre-war period. Diplomatic and foreign missions that were residing in Yemen, some businessmen and a few institutions.
He adds, "Therefore, the departure of diplomatic and foreign missions and some businessmen caused a major depression in the market for this art. In addition, due to the siege accompanying the war, the ways for Yemeni plastic artists to participate in foreign exhibitions were complicated."
He stressed that all of this has made the Yemeni plastic artist lose the most important sources of his psychological, financial and living stability, which prompted some to migrate outside Yemen in search of a new stable to resume life and give the painting an outlet after the war made it lose its potential for recovery at home.
Ahmed believes that the impact of the war is positive, as he says, "There is no doubt that migration affects plastic art, but it is a positive effect compared to what the country is witnessing at the present time, as migration enables artists to develop their experiences in light of what migration gives an atmosphere for continuity and contact with other experiences."
He concludes, "The emigration of Yemeni plastic artists abroad is not recent, as a number of them have migrated in previous periods, and today they are still stable outside their country."
Purely family motives
We are not here to call for everyone to leave the homeland as much as it is an attempt to know what is going on in the minds of the artists.
Here we stop in front of one of those who had a long career in the field of formation, artist Talal Al-Najjar. An immigrant artist residing in (Sweden) and the son of "Old Sana'a". He determined that he had two choices that he could not reconcile, either his children and his family, or art.
He adds, "Many artists sacrificed the first option, but I disagreed with them. My family is a priority for me. I did not leave Yemen in search of an artistic ambition as much as I was concerned with providing a better future for my family."
Here he lists some motives, including "the deterioration of education in Yemen, the loss of security and safety and the loss of the future, and since I was the reason for their presence in this world, I assumed my responsibility to take care of them and provide them with a life worthy of them."
On the future of art in Yemen, he says, "In this situation and even in previous situations, believe me if all the plastic artists suddenly died or disappeared, it wouldn't make any difference, let's not exaggerate the importance of their presence or absence. A country like Yemen did not care about art and will not care about it."
Complete absence of all appearances
In the context, we took the opinion of the artist Ziad Al-Ansi, who lives inside, who confirmed that he is an artist who loves his country and sanctifies his soil, and that he is certain that the artist produces his most beautiful paintings in his country, because he lives and breathes its air and everything in it.
He adds, "I am one who prefers to participate and travel outside his country and hold personal art exhibitions, to introduce Yemeni plastic art, and to present the best and latest artistic experiences that keep pace with the Arab and international plastic movement, but on the condition that I produce and paint it in my country, I cannot dispense with my country, from which I took all my vocabulary and culture. technical".
On the other hand, he says, "Perhaps the current situation forces us to look for another country that sanctifies art and knows the value of the artist, so I did not find an opportunity as great as leaving my country."
Regarding the reality of formation today, he stresses with regret that there is no longer any real plastic activity, not even the opening of a plastic exhibition at the level of Yemen, so that many artists and artists left colors and feathers in search of their livelihood.
Muhammad Saba, a researcher in Yemeni folklore and a collection of tales, stories, vocabulary and the folklore represented in everything related to man, confirmed briefly that he is studying in Cairo and currently has field research in Yemen, and that he does not consider himself an immigrant as much as a student and researcher, but he confirmed That the plastic artists live in a state of obvious suffering.
In this part of the article, we stopped with Ahmed Al-Aghbari, a knowledgeable and skilled journalist. Talal Al-Najjar is a veteran artist and teacher as well. Ziyad Al-Ansi. Efficiency and a queen who was able to pass all obstacles and attend strongly through more than one technical path. And Muhammad Saba has many activities and exhibitions.
