Waraq (Papers Marwan Qassab Bashi) – Turkey Istanbul 2021

Waraq (Marwan Qassab Bashi)

20 Mar 2021

Waraq Papers Exhibition opened in Istanbul as a tribute to the legacy of the renowned Syrian artist Marwan Kassab Bachi, whose work has long explored the expressive power of the human form and material experimentation.

The exhibition brought together a group of contemporary artists who reinterpreted the concept of “paper” (waraq) as both medium and message. Through a variety of approaches, participants transformed paper into sculptural forms, installations, and visual narratives, reflecting themes of fragility, memory, and transformation.

Among the participating artists was Aseel Azizieh from Jordan, who contributed a distinctive body of work combining illustration and sculpture. Her pieces explored the tactile and conceptual possibilities of paper, including the creation of sculptural forms using layered and manipulated paper, as well as innovative works crafted from paper pulp and pots made of paper material.

Azizieh’s participation highlighted her experimental approach, bridging two-dimensional illustration with three-dimensional forms. Her works invited viewers to reconsider the materiality of paper—not only as a surface for drawing but as a medium capable of occupying space and carrying emotional and cultural narratives.

The exhibition served as a platform for artistic dialogue and material exploration, reinforcing Istanbul’s role as a vibrant center for contemporary art and cross-cultural exchange.