Muhannad Kelani

Muhannad Kelani, an artist from Syria, Damascus in my seventh decade, discovered a natural passion towards the arts in early childhood. Despite growing up in a family and environment that did not prioritize art, I insisted on pursuing my passion through spontaneous doodles starting with pencil drawings, until I refined my skills through practice, self-education, and experience. 

  "Art was my escape, my way to understand the world." This belief led me to acquire and read specialized books, engage with the artistic community, and explore various art schools and their histories. My passion for drawing became a driving force to overcome all material and social obstacles. Hence I established my own art workshop and created dozens of significant works using tools such as pencil, charcoal, and oil paints. 

The catastrophic events in Syria brought immense loss and despair when I lost my home, workshop and most of my artworks. After years, I returned to my destroyed home and could save few of them. This brought me deep despair and grief; However, I suppressed the anger and pain, rising again to mend the wounds of my shattered soul, by managing to renovate some of my works and embark on self-study of restoration, successfully completing restorations over the past decade. 

Through my active presence on social media, I have significantly contributed to spreading artistic awareness, attracting a wide audience worldwide. These efforts have been recognized with certificates of appreciation, awards from international cultural organizations. Additionally, I have recently participated in exhibitions and received recognition from several media channels, such as Khaleej Times.

My overall perspective and philosophy in my artistic endeavors revolve around refining my talent with technique and creative ideas through continuous learning, establishing aesthetic values without being confined to any particular artistic school or style; and creating hope through art, challenging all obstacles, and continuing my passion.

Education

Self learner