Ausstellung "Syrien: Stimmen aus der Dunkelheit"

In the organizer's words:

The exhibition by the young Syrian artist and activist Joudi Haj Sattouf, who lives in Göttingen, sheds light on the fate of former prisoners in the notorious Syrian prisons, which are often referred to as "human slaughterhouses". Through painted and drawn art, photographs, videos and literature, the voices of the victims become audible and the atrocities they experienced visible. The 18-year-old focuses on the resilience and fighting spirit of people for freedom and universal rights. The examination of her works creates a platform for education, remembrance and empathy.

Joudi Haj Sattouf grew up in Syria and has lived in Göttingen since 2017. She is committed to human rights and in particular to (former) prisoners in Syria: She translates videos into German, Spanish and English to draw attention to their fates and document them. She also paints and draws paintings that deal with the experiences of the victims of the Assad regime and the connections to Germany. She is also a member of the Göttingen Youth Parliament.

Contents of the exhibition:

- Approx. 40 paintings in various sizes that visualize the suffering, hope and experiences of the victims

- Videos translated into German with testimonies from former prisoners, showing the cruelty and perseverance of those affected

- Presentation of the world-famous photos of the Syrian military photographer "Caesar", who smuggled over 50,000 photos of torture victims out of Syrian prisons, which are an indispensable document of the crimes against humanity in Syria

- Book excerpts translated into German by award-winning Syrian journalist Hadi Al Abdullah, who has documented the regime's crimes through courageous reporting and analysis

The exhibition is expected to open on January 26 at 3 pm.

The closing ("finissage") is planned for February 16 at 3 pm.

Contact/Organization:
The Development Policy Center (EPIZ) Göttingen supports the artist in the realization of the exhibition. Please contact for inquiries etc:

Chris Herrwig | herrwig@epiz-goettingen.de