Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Paris, SANA – Amid a sublime artistic atmosphere, messages of love and peace were conveyed in a Syrian event that was held at the Church of Saint-Séverin in Boulevard Saint-Michel in central Paris.
The event, titled Mawtini (My Homeland), was held as part of events of Nuit Blanche (White Night), which is a huge festival held every year in October in the French capital where most of the culture and entertainment institutes are active during all the night hours.
The international Syrian artist Hratch Arbach, who was born in Damascus in 1975, to a Syrian father and an Armenian mother and moved to Paris in 2000, organized the event, which was held Saturday night with the participation of well-known French perfume maker Francis Kurkdjian and musician Samuel Liégeon.
Speaking to SANA correspondent in Paris, Arbach said this event is meant to be “an outcry of pain, peace and hope” and convoy a sublime humane and national message to all the Syrians to rise above “economic or personal interests.”
The event seemed to a large extent imbued with symbolism, with Arbach working with different media to convey his message.
The theme of unification of Islam and Christianity was on full display, with the event being held at a church-a symbol of Christianity-while the interior of the church is bathed in green, which is the symbol of Islam.
With this blending, Arbach said, the event provides a symbolic presentation of a unified religion to serve the idea of the individual triumphing over pain through everybody taking part in dissolving pain and healing.
He added that he sought to promote the image of a religion of “collaborative human work towards amity and peace.”
He expressed thanks to all those “innovative” participants, peace-lovers and supporters of Mawtini, whom he said added a positive energy to the event that made it appear as grand as it was.
He gave special thanks to Francis Kurkdjian, who participated with presenting three fragrances specially designed around jasmine, earth and blood which recall the jasmine-scented memories of childhood in Syria, the deeply-rooted love of the Syrian soil and the blood of Syria’s martyrs, with the three of those concepts, Arbach said, having always constituted the “Holy Trinity” for all the Syrians.
Oriental music resounded through the church with national melodies and poems for the Arab poets of Gibran Khalil Gibran, Mahmoud Darwish, Al Buhturi, Georges Henein and Nizar Al Kabani being played by Samuel Liégeon to the tunes of the pipe organ.
What added to the stimulating atmosphere was the scented candles provided by Cire Trudon Candles, the oldest French manufacturer that produces the world’s most prestigious candles of the highest quality.
In a sign of pain, thousands of nails made of wax were carefully arranged on the floor of the nave so the 2000 participants are invited to put the candles on the altar.
Once the candles melt, they release the three fragrances jasmine, earth and blood, symbolizing pain dissolving into the odor of hope and love, according to Arbach.
Arbach called upon the Syrians to show tolerance towards each other being “the best solution” to overcome pain and get out of the situation they are currently in, stressing that the Syrians will remain tolerant and peace-loving as they have always been.
At the end of the event, the participants formed a wax statue out of the melted candle nails on the altar as a memorial carrying the titled Mawtini.
Hratch Arbach shares his life between his keen interest in science and his passion for art. After obtaining his M.Sc. in biochemistry in Damascus, he received his Ph.D. in microbiology and virology from the University Paris VII. He then joined one of the leading Paris-based Art school, l’Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs. Having always been inspired by the diversity of artistic expression, he worked with different media, including photography, painting, drawing and scenography.
Haifa Said
