Liberty and Women – Portugal 2023

Symposium Liberty and Women (Portugal, 2023)

Jordanian artist Aseel Azizieh, currently based in Istanbul, participated in an international symposium organized by the Portimão Museum in Portugal from March 6 to 11, 2023, under the theme “Liberty and Women”, in collaboration with the Conio Solarte Foundation for Culture and Arts.

Azizieh was selected as one of four internationally recognized female artists from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds to take part in the third edition of the museum’s symposium. The event brought together artists to explore complex global issues—such as refugees, violence, and sustainability—through visual art, encouraging intercultural dialogue and free expression.

Over the course of six days, the artists developed contemporary and abstract artistic projects through an open workshop format, engaging directly with audiences and participants.

Azizieh expressed her gratitude for being selected and her pride in representing Jordan. She emphasized that the symposium provided an important opportunity to address a cause she has long been committed to: the refugee experience. She believes that art carries both a humanitarian and aesthetic message and plays a vital role in addressing global issues—especially within international platforms where artistic voices can be widely heard through color and form.

Drawing from personal memories of growing up in Jordan—a country deeply affected by successive waves of migration—Azizieh reflects on the emotional impact of displacement. Her artistic approach does not aim to document refugee experiences literally, but rather to convey their emotional and psychological depth. Through a style that blends abstract expressionism and symbolism, she uses her distinctive colors and lines to communicate themes of freedom, struggle, and resilience.

Her work invites viewers to engage deeply, searching for meaning within forms that may appear ambiguous or undefined. Ultimately, her art reflects a powerful message: a commitment to life, hope, and the human capacity to endure and rebuild, even in the face of displacement.