Photographer and filmmaker Alaa Hassan was born in Syria in 1986 and raised in the country under the control of the Assad family. He started his photography work in 2006, and later developed an interest in filmmaking. Alaa left Syria after the war and moved to New York in 2013, where he is currently based. He recently produced the award-winning Danish-Syrian co-production feature documentary, “The War Show”. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and won the Venice Days Award. His photography book, “Cardboard Castle,” looks at political advertisement and the urban development of Damascus. The book was released this year with support from the British Council and the Prince Claus Fund.
This installation attempts to recreate that experience for non-Syrian audiences. The exposure to such propaganda may shorten the gap between the local and international perception of the situation in Syria and help create a more nuanced understanding.
The show consists of images taken by the artist, combined with posters and sounds from Damascus, Syria. The installation is also based on part of the artist’s book, “Cardboard Castle,” which will be available at the exhibition space.
