Painter from Raqqa : Raqqa is Guernica of Syria

2017-07-03 15:54:47

RAQQA – A painter from Raqqa named Mihemed Hesen who was rescued from DAİŞ’ captivity describes DAİŞ as great plague. “ If I draw a table, I will name it ‘ plague’. I will tell story of Raqqa with a table like Picasso told   story of Spanish Civil War by drawing Guernica. Raqqa will be Guernica of Syria” says Hesen.

Democratic Syrian Forces (QSD) are continuing to rescue civilian from DAİŞ ( Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) during Operation towards Raqqa which was named ‘Great War’ and launched 27 days ago. One of the civilian who was rescued from DAİŞ is a painter named Mihemed Hesen (31). Hesen was kept by DAİŞ for five years.  Some walls of Sebehiye neighborhoof where was liberated from DAİŞ were drew by someone. After DAİŞ seized the city some of draws were blacked by DAİŞ. After a while searching we learnt Mihemed Hesen had been drawn the walls before DAİŞ. Hesen lives in a district between Sebehiye Neighborhood and Hewil Hewa village. Hesen is well known by residents of Sebehiye Neighborhood because he drew most of pictures on the walls of neighborhood. After a few days searching , we could find Hesen.

Hesen accepted to speak with us in a safer region where there is none mine which was landed by DAİŞ. He took us to his office where located in the Neighborhood of Sebehiye. Hesen says he began to painting when he was nine and he became a professional painter when he was 16. “ I was sculptor in Beirut and turned to Syria and kept continue to drawing until DAİŞ seized the city says Hesen.

“ I was threatened by DAİŞ right after city was seized and painting was made forbidden in the city and they claimed  it was unlawful for religion.  They also trying to trot out me to the public. Then we tried to escape after we were threatened. I lived secretly in around Raqqa where they couldn’t find me” said Hesen.

“ Then I started to work as shepherd and lived alone. I could painting when I could find colors. I was hiding all pictures I drew. Sometime I was drawing on the earth to not forget to painting.  Because I was living alone” said Hesen.

“ We lived a lot of pain from DAİŞ. Therefore I will painting about DAİŞ cruelty. If I draw a table , it will be about great plague of Raqqa. Because this plague wrapped  many of our young. To be honest the cure will be found very hard” says Hesen.

Hesen says the greatest painter he is influenced is Picasso. “ I will tell story of Raqqa with a table like Picasso told   story of Spanish Civil War by drawing Guernica. Raqqa will be Guernica of Syria” says Hesen.

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