Manaf Halbouni: Rubble Theatre (2019)

Damascus-born Manaf Halbouni transformed part of Glasgow’s city centre for a whole week into a scene from his war-torn home nation. Titled Rubble Theatre, Halbouni’s installation recreated a scene of destruction in Syria, featuring the rubble of a bombsite and an abandoned car.  

Manaf Halbouni is a Syrian artist. He was born in Damascus, Syria, in 1984. His father is Syrian and his mother is German. In 2008 Manaf moved from Syria to Dresden, Germany, where he studied Visual Art before beginning to exhibit his works across Europe. Manaf Halbouni’s artistic practice is informed by a participatory approach that spans a wide range of media and often incorporates ordinary objects and materials.  

Commissioned by Scottish Refugee Council and Counterpoints Arts for Refugee Festival Scotland 2019 

Funded by Creative Scotland  

Installed in St Enoch Square (Glasgow)  

“I was amazed by pictures of the war in Syria that showed people trying to keep on creating art and culture among the rubble and destruction of the war. I saw a photograph of a piano player sitting among total devastation in a Palestinian refugee camp, and another of children in a camp playing with puppets. 

I thought how amazing it would be to recreate this in a European city. I want to give people an idea of what it’s like to see your city destroyed and yet, to keep trying to live well and to keep on trying to create.”  Manaf Halbouni

Image credit: Roddy Scott