Hazem
I wanted to send you my congratulations for winning a production support for your documentary (Childhood of the place) and that your name is with both Malas (I remember seeing his Dreams of the City just before I left ~~~Syria), and Almaleh too, well done.
Since I wrote to you last, I went to the Institute of Astronomy, and borrowed few books on Sundials, and have been dreaming about the design for my Analemma as a sun palimpsest. spending some time with my family and other time sketching/ making quick model for my design; it is really great to have a project in mind, as I scan my surroundings for inspiration, sometimes in trivial objects.
Today the sun was a wake, and shadows were long. We went for a walk, and I took some images that I would like to share with you as well as some other thoughts too,
We were in a playground by the river and I was thinking of your recent images of (I live in Syria) and (the power of the moment). It struck me, and maybe I am incorrect, that you don’t need to ask friends, relatives or passers-by for written permission to use their images!?
Did you know that here, I had to be so careful that “innocent bystanders” being caught by my lens!? I couldn’t take any images of children playing, so I looked else where at the surrounding:
And derelict places ( not many left in Cambridge, as the city is looked after, sometimes too much!)
And at reflections (where i feel I am drawing)
Talking about reflection, I was thinking that this year’s remaining days are numbered! And, sadly, we are to end our dialogue soon. Maybe we need to start reflecting back to the last weeks journey:
Damascus, Barada, Cam, Bab Tuma, half-rooms, Faces, stupid happy faces, childhood, Abu Hajar (by the way, I couldn’t watch your documentary Stone Bird, with the link posted), Moudarres, Mattoot, innocent bystanders, light, sun palimpsest, bridges, smiles, borders, passports, sun, snow, shadows, analemma, moments, memories, places and many many luggage! This is what I’ll take/remember.
Issam
