Photographer leaves Damascus to pursue art safely in Campbell River
In Damascus, Syria, simply carrying a camera in public could be perceived as an act of rebellion. As an aspiring photographer, Sarmad Almouallem was approached by the military nearly every time he went out in the streets with his camera. To keep his equipment, he often had to offer money or delete his digital photo card.
Syria has been in the midst of a complex and violent civil war since 2011 that has displaced millions of people. Some areas are controlled by the regime, such as Damascus, while other parts of the country are held by Syrian rebels, jihadists, or Kurdish forces.
Almouallem was born and raised in Syria, and had obtained a degree in electrical engineering at Damascus University. He worked at his father’s electrical and mechanical engineering company on projects such as a thousand-bed hospital, but his true passion was photography.
“Photography was the medium that I felt I can be connected to and communicate with other people and show them my view,” he says.
Read the full story here: 2022 People Project – Taj and Sarmad’s stories
Listen to the podcast episode by Holding Heritage.
More from this series:
- Introducing the Newcomer Entrepreneur Series in Campbell River
- Interview 1: Rica Briones and Ivan Raganot, JRV Filipino Asian Store
- Interview 2: Taj Singh and Pita Pit Campbell River
Photo contributed by Sarmad Almouallem