While young artists in neighbouring countries often command attention by the fury with which they try to get rid of traditions, Syrian artists generally seem quite comfortable with their cultural background.
Syria has always had a lively visual arts scene. Appreciated by regional Arab collectors it failed in turn to attract the attention of the West. Over the past two years Syrian artists and galleries have rejoined the Middle-Eastern avant-garde, which is slowly but surely establishing itself internationally.
During the Indy India film programme, April 2009 in The Hague, rare movies, produced independently from Bollywood, were shown. Shai Heredia put the programme together.