Preview: Echoes of the Soul

Springs of Hope
Sep 22
3 min read

Dear Friends, as you read this we will be hosting an art exhibition in the Mall in Shariya, mall being a cluster of stores in a building, but it’s a Mall and we are proud of it. Salam the Director of our Hope Academy of Art has entitled the exhibition Echoes of the Soul. It is just that. A glimpse into the soul of some of our students rescued from captivity.

We bring you three examples this week for your appreciation. Next week we hope to share fuller details of the exhibition.

Saba

"My name is Saba, and I am one of the girls who survived captivity, and now I live in the camp. My relationship with art at SOHF has a long history. and I recently created this painting about the Yazidi Genocide that expresses Yazidi women.

The meaning of the painting: The Yazidi woman's resilience in the face of pain and her protection of her roots and children no matter how severe the ordeal.

The picture represents the strong Yazidi woman who persevered despite tragedies and wars. The luminous halo behind her head symbolizes purity and spiritual strength, as if it were a sacred icon or symbol.

The child represented by her hand represents hope and continuity, and the love of the next generation to carry and protect.

The peacock on her scarf is an important symbol in the Yazidi religion, expressing identity and belonging.

The devastation and smoke around her contrasted with the destruction she had witnessed, but her straight stance and steady face symbolized unbreakability.

I painted this to commemorate the 11th memorial of the Genocide. It was important to me to capture both the devastation and the hope moving ahead."

Saba

Jolyana

"My name is Jolyana. I am one of the oldest students of art classes at SOHF, and my journey with art gives me a great sense of satisfaction, especially when I participate in various exhibitions displaying my art, This is my last painting I made for the Yazidi Genocide Exhibition. I wanted to convey a message through this painting. It is a way for my voice to be heard and magnified.

This painting conveys a powerful message through its symbolism. The candle’s flame represents hope and enlightenment amid darkness, while its melting form suggests the fleeting nature of life and time. The hand holding it, enduring the dripping wax, evokes themes of sacrifice, resilience, and human agency. The dark background intensifies the contrast, highlighting the light’s significance and hinting at mystery or existential void. Altogether, it speaks to the beauty and pain of bearing light in a shadowed world, something that each one of us should be doing."

Jolyana

Fadia

"My name is Fadia. I make my life with color and express my emotions about a lot of things. The art world for me is a story I live in, and art classes at SOHF have had a huge impact on my art. As a Yazidi girl I wanted to make this painting and express my feelings and vision.

This painting beautifully symbolizes growth and freedom. The outstretched hand adorned with blooming flowers and vines reaching toward a soaring white bird evokes a longing for liberation and higher aspirations. The colors and serene blue sky create a sense of hope and interconnectedness, suggesting a journey toward beauty and transcendence. I live in a fragile balance between the suffering of the past and the transcendent beauty that my eyes see and which encourages me to move ahead, to move beyond."

Fadia