Kurdish artist finds audience in Germany for eco-friendly creations

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish artist from Syria has found a market for her artwork made from repurposed bottles after moving to Germany.

Surayya Mohammed is originally from Damascus. She studied art in Aleppo and worked as an art teacher for many years. She has been living in Germany for three years where she sells the artwork she makes with her daughters.
 
“My style is unique because I studied art academically at the institute in Aleppo, so it's different. Also, I was a teacher there and I was a teacher in Aleppo for more than 30 years,” Mohammed told Rudaw TVs Friday Diaspora programme.

Mohammed has developed a unique artistic style by incorporating natural materials such as plants and wood into her artwork alongside her primary material, repurposed bottles.

"I first started in Aleppo making paintings on wood and boards using soil and plants, using pine and several other plants - that's how it was before. But now we create more paintings with glass and bottles,” she explained. 

“Ever since childhood, I have loved artistic work. Not just me, but my brothers and relatives too. This is like a genetic inheritance for us, and we continue with artistic work in creating these things,” she said.