An Exhibition Curated to Bridge Cultures Through Art
Limassol, May 2025
Journey of New Beginnings is a deeply personal and evocative exhibition curated to celebrate artistic expression, cultural convergence, and the resilient journey of two Syrian artists who have redefined their creative identities through exile and exploration. Curated by Nibal Baidas Christofides, an avid art enthusiast whose multicultural upbringing and passion for aesthetic beauty shape every aspect of this initiative. The exhibition is an invitation to marvel, reflect, and connect.
“My passion for art has always accompanied me,” says Nibal. “From collecting to curation, it’s been a constant source of learning and discovery. I’ve long been fascinated by how textures, colours, and styles vary across cultures and yet speak a universal language. This exhibition is my way of bridging cultures through that language—through art.”
Journey of New Beginnings showcases the compelling works of Nawar Shartouh and Imad Habbab, two artists whose paths out of Syria have enriched their techniques, deepened their narratives, and shaped new artistic voices rooted in both personal and collective transformation.
Nawar Shartouh
Nawar’s artistic journey began in childhood, fuelled by a love of music and painting. A graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Damascus, he specialised in Graphic (printmaking), which became the foundation for his exploration into mixed media. Nawar’s work is defined by its emotional depth and psychological complexity. His characters, often abstract and unidentifiable, serve as mirrors of inner worlds—raw, emotional, and deeply human.
Having lived in Abu Dhabi, and now in Dubai, Nawar has exhibited his work extensively both locally and internationally. Some which include his last solo in Dubai 2024, Dubai Expo 2021, and a solo exhibition in Syria 2021. He has also taken part in collective exhibitions in Egypt, Syria, Dubai and others, with his work collected across the Middle East and around the world. His pieces transcend identity and geography, offering universal reflections on the human condition.
Imad Habbab
Imad’s relationship with art began in early childhood through professional workshops in Damascus. After graduating from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 2011, he began refining his now-signature use of bold, impressionist-inspired colours. In the wake of Syria’s 2012 crisis, Imad relocated to Lebanon, where he began his poignant “Explosion” series—an exploration of memory, trauma, and emotional aftermath.
By 2014, he developed the “Civilian Spectrum” series, examining identity, belonging, and the invisible traces we leave behind. His journey later took him to Istanbul and eventually Belgium, where he is now based.
Imad has had several solo exhibitions: Dubai 2024 and 2025, Istanbul 2022 and 2023, and Beirut 2015. He has also participiated in collective exhibtions in Dubai Expo, Turkey, Lebanon, United States, Germany, to name a few. Imad has won the first prize ‘Shaghaf’ award for young artists in Damascus in 2011 and the UNHCR cover painting in 2014.
As a curator with an international background, Nibal not only relates to the displacement and cultural interweaving within their works, but also strives to connect these themes with global audiences. Despite our differences, we share a great deal—music, poetry, history, cuisine, tradition—and it is this common ground that Journey of New Beginnings aims to highlight. Through the artists’ stories, Nibal hopes viewers find reflections of their own.
This exhibition is not merely a presentation of artwork—it is an immersive experience. Nibal invites you to join in on this soulful journey. Let your imagination run wild. Let your soul dance. Let your senses be provoked. And, perhaps most importantly, let yourself discover something new at this exhibition.
