The Marsoum Philosophy

Definition:

مَرْسُوم / marsoum (noun) /ɱɑ̃ʀ-ʃœɱ/māŗ-sœm:

delineated; designed; drawn; illustrated; painted; sketched; traced. 

Manifesto:

Marsoum Art Collective is an online gallery and platform for artists to come together and illuminate, portray, and curate, a different narrative of the Arab World and its diaspora.

It is a space where this rich heritage is finely portrayed through artful ways of expression.

It is a space where the story is transformed into hope and peace.

Marsoum Art Collective was conceptually inspired by those artists who are using art form as a means to decipher a new image – and ultimately for those who are seeking the hopeful version of the story.

Philosophy:

Stories and images emerging from the Arab World are generally ones of turmoil, hardships, and of a war stricken region…
Populations forced to flee their homes, barefoot children growing up in refugee camps, and immigrants flooding European cities... These are the one-sided stories media outlets choose to cover time and time again. 

drawing by algerian french artist Adel Bentounsi 

That is where the Marsoum Art Collective comes in, with an aim to change the narrative.

Despite the many troubles the region is faced with, somewhere along the narrow cobblestone streets there is hope manifesting itself in the form of art. Dotted with rustic homes and beautiful windows, bougainvilleas, and beckoning cafes, your ears are drawn to the melody of conversations occurring in a multitude of languages. You catch on to a newfound atmosphere nestled with hope, creativity, and character. This is a mélange of roots dating back over thousands of years, and home to the Cradle of Civilization, and a generation constructing itself into idyllic and unique expression.  

 

As a result of the situation in the Arab World, people have compelling stories that manifest themselves in the form of visual arts.

Jerusalem's Dome of the Holy Rock as depicted by Adel Bentounsi

A promising new generation is changing the conversation from resentment, to artful ways of expression and idealism. Marsoum Art Collective was conceptually inspired by those artists who are using art form as a means to decipher a new image of the Arab World. They’re the people who are altering the story. The ones who are using art to start a new dialogue, create a new vision, and build a new freedom. They’re the ones who are using art to fight back with hope and peace. 

Bridging Eastern art with Western culture, Marsoum Art Collective is an online art gallery adopting emerging artists from the Arab World and bringing you their sublime artwork right to your doorstep.

Marsoum Art Collective is a portal for exposure, and awareness. It is home to some of the most profound art coming out of the Arab World, but equally as important, it is a space for artists to call home.