Floating Homes Exhibition booklet

Exhibition Booklet

EN

The artist explores the intricate relationship between those who

have experienced displacement and the homes they left behind.

A look into personal archaeologies of home in migration.

Born in 1992, Sammy Zarka spent 20 years in Damascus, Syria, before relocating to Italy. Throughout his architectural studies, across various countries, he focused on post-war recovery grounded in collective memory. Presently, his visual art practice explores the socio-spatial changes of communities caused by displacement.

His reflections are inspired by shared testimonies of people remembering and retracing their destroyed or abandoned Syrian homes. He frames these narratives in a wider urban-historic context through a multidisciplinary approach, transfiguring these oral archives. This deeply personal process for the artist animates a new story, spotlighting the transformative nature of displacement.

This exhibition, “Floating Homes”, is a continuation of Zarka’s research journey. October 2023 is when he first saw the Gallo-Roman archeological site of Villa-Loupian and its mosaics. He instantly experienced it as a landscape imbued with memories of lost dwellings.

Guided by museum director Selim Benalioua, he uncovered traces of Syrian presence contributing to the creation of these mosaics, offering the artist a captivating temporal echo of Palmyra's history, the cycles of construction and deconstruction over time, seamlessly bridging the past with the present.

During his residency at Espace o25rjj, a Contemporary Art venue, Zarka began to meet Syrians who settled in the region surrounding the GalloRoman archaeological site of Villa Loupian, listening to their stories of lost homes. Since fleeing their country following the outbreak of war in 2012, each individual has moved to a new home. Despite this, the memory of their past homes remains raw and vivid.

Through interviews with the Syrian community, the artist has transformed these remnants of memory into narratives.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

Based solely on recollection, the layouts of the lost homes have been sketched out, forming a new landscape of memories within the exhibition space.

The interviews are transcribed into accompanying the exhibition booklet.

a

supplementary

leaflet

"Floating Homes" unfolds in five parts across the archaeological site, within the museum, and on the mosaic floor. Additionally, one artwork is prominently displayed downtown, wrapping the façade of the F.L.A.C. at Espace o25rjj.

Through installations of clay, prints and 3D models, the artist reclaims and monumentalizes these different spaces, for the invisible places that exist only in the collective memory of the Syrian community residing in the site’s region.

The production of this work was carried out amidst the ongoing destruction of over 300,000 Palestinian homes in Gaza. It is dedicated to the millions searching for a home and stands as an open challenge to those who have the power to commit violence against them.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

I) Lost homes [40X25X8cm] Here a broken clay model interprets Majida’s home. (see story 4) Majida depicted the home she inhabited before moving to France.

The central drawing showcased here marks her prayer corner and the walls damaged by the earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in early 2023. The smaller drawings are by Majida’s husband and 2 sons illustrating the same home.

This serves as an introduction to a series of installations reflecting on memories of home amidst displacement.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

I) II)Lost Palmyra homes one step away [40X25X8cm] [48X45X7cm] Here a broken clay model clayinterprets model interprets Izzat’s home Majida’s (see home. story(see 5) story 4) Majida Izzat's home depicted wasthe built home by his shegrandfather inhabited before after moving he was to forcibly France. displaced The

by French centralarchaeologists drawing showcased in 1932here from marks the Temple her prayer of Palmyra cornerwhere and the his walls familydamaged had resided by the for earthquake centuries. Placed that struck in continuity Syria and with Turkey theinmodel early 2023. depicting Thethesmaller variousdrawings phases ofare development

by Majida’s of the husband Gallo-Roman and 2 Villa, sons illustrating the story ofthe Izzat's samehouse home.represented by this artwork is a metaphor for This the destruction serves as an of introduction the Palmyrene to a kingdom series of by installations Aurelian, reflecting the Roman on memories emperor. Through of home an amidst imagined displacement. temporality, these homes are connected across time and space.

III) Floating homes [17X7X10cm] Here a soap model of a house gradually melts as it is showcased in a water pool in the villa's bathroom. The model is made after the drawing and description of Sarah’s grandmother’s home who fled Gaza Palestine in 1948 first to Quneitra Syria, a city Israel destroyed in 1974 and then to Damascus. (see story 5) The model is replaced periodically. The continuously reforming artwork is a tribute to the way memories of home are manipulated by the passage of time and the impact these new environments have on our experience of space.

IV) Imagine a house covered with flowers [750x300cm] Mahmoud's evocative depiction of the home he left behind is encapsulated in a phrase of his, which is the title of the artwork (see story 4). Strips of wallpaper cover a wall in the frigidarium, mirroring the floral patterned wallpaper from his former home. The motif is derived from an explanatory sketch he provided, illustrating the flowers that adorned the walls of his home. This serves as a tribute to the profound significance granted to memories of the visual aspects of home within the psychological concept of object attachment. With this motif repeated on strips of paper, the artist warms the space and makes Mahmoud’s voice resonate like a zikr.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

the destruction of the Palmyrene kingdom by Aurelian, the Roman emperor. Through an imagined temporality, these homes are connected across time and space.

I) Lost homes III) Floating homes [40X25X8cm] [17X7X10cm] Here a broken clay model interprets Majida’s home. (see story 4) Majida the home she inhabited before France.

Here a depicted soap model of a house gradually meltsmoving as it istoshowcased in a The showcased prayerafter corner and the watercentral pool indrawing the villa's bathroom.here Themarks model her is made the drawing walls damaged of

by Sarah’s the earthquake that struck TurkeyPalestine in early and description grandmother’s homeSyria who and fled Gaza 2023. smaller drawings Majida’s husband sons in 1948The first to Quneitra Syria, aare city by Israel destroyed in 1974and and 2then to illustrating samestory home.

Damascus.the(see 5) The model is replaced periodically. The This serves as an introduction seriestooftheinstallations reflecting on continuously reforming artwork istoa atribute way memories of home memories of homeby amidst displacement. are manipulated the passage of time and the impact these new environments have on our experience of space.

IV) Imagine a house covered with flowers [750x300cm] Mahmoud's evocative depiction of the home he left behind is encapsulated in a phrase of his, which is the title of the artwork (see story 4). Strips of wallpaper cover a wall in the frigidarium, mirroring the floral patterned wallpaper from his former home. The motif is derived from an explanatory sketch he provided, illustrating the flowers that adorned the walls of his home. This serves as a tribute to the profound significance granted to memories of the visual aspects of home within the psychological concept of object attachment. With this motif repeated on strips of paper, the artist warms the space and makes Mahmoud’s voice resonate like a zikr.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

continuously reforming artwork is a tribute to the way memories of home are manipulated by the passage of time and the impact these new environments have on our experience of space.

I) Lost homes IV) Imagine a house covered with flowers [40X25X8cm] [750x300cm] Here a broken clay model interprets Majida’s home. (see story 4) Mahmoud's evocative of the home heto left behind is Majida depicted the homedepiction she inhabited before moving France. encapsulated in a phrase of his,here which is the of the artwork The central drawing showcased marks hertitle prayer corner and(see the story 4).

Strips of cover athat wallstruck in theSyria frigidarium, mirroring the walls damaged bywallpaper the earthquake and Turkey in early floral patterned wallpaper fromare his by former home.husband The motif is 2 derived 2023.

The smaller drawings Majida’s and sons from an explanatory sketch he provided, illustrating the flowers that illustrating the same home. adorned the as walls his home. This as installations a tribute to the profound This serves an ofintroduction to a serves series of reflecting on significance to memories of the visual aspects of home within the memories ofgranted home amidst displacement. psychological concept of object attachment. With this motif repeated on strips of paper, the artist warms the space and makes Mahmoud’s voice resonate like a zikr.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

I) Lost homes [40X25X8cm] Here a broken clay model interprets Majida’s home. (see story 4) Majida depicted the home she inhabited before moving to France.

The central drawing showcased here marks her prayer corner and the walls damaged by the earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in early 2023. The smaller drawings are by Majida’s husband and 2 sons illustrating the same home.

This serves as an introduction to a series of installations reflecting on memories of home amidst displacement.

V) Fragmented myths [15sqm] VIII) Disturbed maps Here a landscape of debris covers areas of the villa’s historic mosaics.

[250X190cm] The debris is what remains of a series of fifteen clay models that are built from graffiti, the interviewees sketches maps after their interviews, starting Like fifteen hand-drawn are superimposed on thefrom wallthe of memory of their homes.

The models have subsequently been destroyed Espace o25rjj, the residency where Zarka developed the project. These and their rubbles the scattered on the of floors Villa Gallo Romaine. maps represent past homes the ofinterviewees.

The ensemble of This installation occupies the missing areas of the mosaics. is possible maps suggests a space of collective memory, depicting Itthe ultimate to imagine that these areas have been scratched, destroyed by a collapse of scale, where individuals become the embodiment of these machine. homes.

VI) Faceless towers [40X25X8cm]

Homes de and Sammy Zarka juin >3D 7 octobre HereFloating clay bricks rise open up – to14 reveal replicas2024 of details of Palmyran reliefs.

Plastic flowers found in the rubbles of destroyed Damascene suburbs Homes to demake Sammy Zarka 14 juinmodels. > 7 octobre haveFloating been recycled these 3D–printed Their2024 petals infuse color into the reproduced faces that once adorned the towers of the

I) Lost homes [40X25X8cm] Here a broken clay model interprets Majida’s home. (see story 4) Majida depicted the home she inhabited before moving to France.

The central drawing showcased here marks her prayer corner and the walls damaged by the earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in early 2023. The smaller drawings are by Majida’s husband and 2 sons illustrating the same home.

This serves as an introduction to a series of installations reflecting on V) Fragmented myths memories of home amidst displacement.

[15sqm] Here a landscape of debris covers areas of the villa’s historic mosaics.

The debris is what remains of a series of fifteen clay models that are built from the interviewees sketches after their interviews, starting from the memory of their homes. The models have subsequently been destroyed and their rubbles scattered on the floors of Villa Gallo Romaine.

This installation occupies the missing areas of the mosaics. It is possible to imagine that these areas have been scratched, destroyed by a machine.

VI) Faceless towers [40X25X8cm] VIII) Disturbed maps Here clay bricks rise and open up to reveal 3D replicas of details of [250X190cm] Palmyran reliefs.

Plastic flowers found in the rubbles destroyed Damascene Like graffiti, fifteen hand-drawn mapsofare superimposed on thesuburbs wall of have been recycled to make these 3D printed models.

Their petals These infuse Espace o25rjj, the residency where Zarka developed the project. color into the reproduced faces that once adorned the towers of maps represent the past homes of the interviewees. The ensemblethe of Palmyran necropolis.

Now looted and largely destroyed. maps suggests a space of collective memory, depicting the ultimate collapse of scale, where individuals become the embodiment of these VII) Mapping homes to harbor homes.

Short Film 8’13’’ Directors: Beniamino Barrese, Sammy Zarka Vertical clips are from Zarkas instagram archive of visits home.

Sammy Zarka archive – 14 juinin>her 7 octobre The Floating song clipHomes is fromde Sarah Husein’s home in2024 Damascus.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

VIII) Disturbed maps [250X190cm] Like graffiti, fifteen hand-drawn maps are superimposed on the wall of Espace o25rjj, the residency where Zarka developed the project. These maps represent the past homes of the interviewees. The ensemble of maps suggests a space of collective memory, depicting the ultimate collapse of scale, where individuals become the embodiment of these homes.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

VIII) Disturbed maps [250X190cm] Like graffiti, fifteen hand-drawn maps are superimposed on the wall of Espace o25rjj, the residency where Zarka developed the project. These maps represent the past homes of the interviewees. The ensemble of maps suggests a space of collective memory, depicting the ultimate collapse of scale, where individuals become the embodiment of these homes.

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024

Acknowledgements Abu Mulham, Fatima, Iman, Izzat, Abu Wissam, and all those who generously shared their stories and opened their homes to me, Ahmad Morsi, Cedric Matet, Erica Garavaglia, and Niccolo Gravina and many friends for their unwavering support, Andrew Turpin, for the loving work on proofreading the English texts, Anna Wirenfeldt Minor, who was very enthusiastic about the project and introduced me to the wonders of Glyptoteket, Aurélie Piau, who welcomed me into her ceramics studio in Montpellier, Beniamino Barrese, co-director of the short film, Charly Malki, who bent the metal to contain the water, Barbara Lebeguec-Friedman for her brilliant technical support, Gabriella Donati, who gave me invaluable advice for the making of the ceramics, Hadi Haffar, who shared his precious expertise on soap molding, Leen Mahayni, who provided me with flowers from the rubble, Mouna Zarka, who connected me with Syrian families in the region between Sète and Montpellier, Pascale Ciapp of Espace o25rjj, who put her heart into every step of this adventure and shared both her home and family, Sarah Husein, who listened and shared her story, Nizar Zarka, my father, for his constant support, Muna Imady, my mother, whose soul and books will remain my floating home, Elaine Imady, my grandmother, who sparked my curiosity and gave me a love for archaeology, The entire team at the Museum of Gallo-Roman Villa Loupian for hosting my exhibition and for their invaluable support.

Musée Gallo-Romain Villa Loupian RD 158 E4, Loupian Conditions d’accès sur le site web : patrimoine.agglopole.fr/musee-villaloupian. Demande d’infos : villaloupian@agglopole.fr / 04 67 18 68 18

Espace o25rjj 25 rue Jean Jaurès, Loupian - www.o25rjj.fr Visible de l’espace public

Floating Homes de Sammy Zarka – 14 juin > 7 octobre 2024