Syria: A Conflict Explored - We Were There
Guest one: “Given the opportunity to come and actually meet people, Syrian people and hear from them about what is happening in Syria.”
Guest two: “I came to see the exhibition about Syria and also it was important for me to speak to people who were there.”
Guest three: “Sometimes it's just important to be able to talk directly to the people who don't have any political agenda behind whatever they are showing on the screen.”
Guest four: “Yes there is a lot of terrible things going on, there's a lot of death, but there is a lot of life happening, there is, there are lots of things that people are doing to try to help.”
Guest five: “Can actually learn about Syria and actually what's going on and how it is before and after the war.”
Guest six: “He told us his political views about the country's political views, some history about the country, about the conflict and what he's doing in England and so very interesting.”
Guest seven: “The war is happening, but people go to school, people go to work, people try to survive.”
A range of people, some of whom have fled Syria and others who have worked there shared their stories of life in the country before and during the conflict in our pop-up Conflict Café.
Syrian drinks and delicacies were provided by Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, a restaurant set-up by chef and former refugee Imad Alarnab.
Discussion groups were encouraged not only to listen, but to ask questions in the hope of gaining a more personal understanding of the realities of a seemingly distant crisis.
In this video participants share their thoughts and feelings after taking part in conversations.
This event was part of Syria: A Conflict Explored, a season of exhibitions and events taking place at IWM London, reflecting upon the ongoing conflict in Syria.
This season includes the photography exhibition, Sergey Ponomarev: A Lens on Syria and object display, Syria: Story of a Conflict.
