Bissane AL CHARIF
Youtube Instagram Facebook-f Vimeo

Visual artist & Set designer

ONGOING PROJECTS – 2022

July 10-11 – 2022  Set design. Opera. Woman at point zero, Pavaillon Noir, production LOD muziektheater. composer: Bushra El-Turk, director: Laila Soliman, libretto: Stacy Hardy. Aix en Provence. France.

28 rue pasteur, 94200, Ivry sur seine

+ 33 (0)6 31 21 33 70

bissiq@gmail.com

  • 1995-2001 Bachelor of Architecture. Damascus University, Syria.
  • 2001-2002 Degree in Archaeology. University of Lyon 2, Lyon, France.
  • 2003-2005 Postgraduate Diploma in Set Design (D.P.E.A.). Nantes School of Architecture, France.
  • 2016 Awarded the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Minister of Culture and Communication for the art installation project titled WOMEN MEMORIES.
  • 2019-2018 I once entered a garden (multimedia installation), in collaboration with Chrystèle Khodr, a project supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Middle East, and Al Mawred Culture Resource. Presented at Dar El Nemr in Beirut, Globe Aroma space in Belgium, Napoli Teatro Festival in Italy, and Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival in Groningen, Netherlands.
  • 2017-2018 Sham (multimedia installation), in collaboration with Simon Pochet. Supported by MAKISAPA-DOC, in co-production with ESPACE MALRAUX, Scène Nationale de Chambéry et de la Savoie. A project supported by the ONDA, and the Atelier des Artistes en Exils (aa-e). Presented at the Espace Malraux, national stage, Chambéry, and the Musée of the history of immigration, the Palais de la Porte Dorée, Paris.
  • 2013-2014-2015 WOMEN MEMORIES (multimedia installation), in collaboration with Simon Pochet and Wael Ali. Supported by the British Council, Ettijahat, Young Arab Theatre Fund, and Inediz. Presented at Confluence, Paris, festival “C’est comme ça” in Chateau Thierry, Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival in Groningen, Netherlands, and Mousonturm Frankfurt.
  • 2013-2014 Message to Syria (multimedia installation), in collaboration with Géraldine Kouzan. Project supported by the Île de France region, presented at ICI Montreuil, Paris.
  • 2009 Massar’s Bus (installation), Trust Foundation, The Syria Trust for Development Old Damascus Fair, Syria.
  • 2022 Woman at Point Zero (set design & video). Opera. Composition by Bushra El-Turk, directed by Laila Soliman, libretto by Stacy Hardy. Production by LOD muziektheater. Presented at Pavaillon Noir, Aix en Provence.
  • 2021 Mandela: From the Veld to the Presidency (set design). Theater. Adapted by Olivia Burton and Xavier Marchand, directed by Xavier Marchand, Lanicolacheur. Presented at La Fonderie, Le Mans/ MC93, Ile de France/ Théâtre du Bois de l’Aune, Aix-en-Provence/ Théâtre Joliette, Marseille/ Maison de la Culture d’Amiens, France.
  • 2020-2021 Turing Point (set design & costume). Dance. Directed by Nancy Naous. Company 4120.BODY. Presented at L’Etoile du Nord, Paris/ Neuf Neuf Festival -L’Escale, Tournefeuille/ Kaaitheater, Brussels.
  • 2019-2020 Damascus 2045 (set design & costume). Theater. Text by Mohammad Al Attar. Directed by Omar Abusadaa. Supported and presented at Powszechny Theater in Warsaw as part of the Atlas of Transitions program. A new version was supported and presented at Theater Freiburg, Germany.
  • 2019 Under a Low Sky (set design & costume). Theater. Text & Directed by Waël Ali. Supported by the European Commission within the framework of the Creative Europe program. Presented at Friche belle de Mai, Marseille and Bozar, Brussels.
  • 2018 The Factory (set design & masks). Theatre. Text by Mohammad Al Attar, directed by Omar Abusadaa. Presented at Volksbühne, Berlin/ Onassis Cultural Center, Athens/ Kampnagel, Hamburg.
  • 2017-2018 Temporary Stay (set design). Theater. Directed by Wael Ali & Chrystèle Khodr. Presented at Les Subsistances, Lyon/ La Friche de la Belle de Mai, Marseille/ Théâtre de la Vignette, Montpellier/ Théâtre Jean Vilar, Ile de France/ KaaiStudio, Brussels.
  • 2018-2019 Aleppo: A Portrait of Absence (set design). Theater. Text by Mohammad Al Attar, directed by Omar Abusadaa. Presented at HKV, Berlin/ Zurcher Theater Spektakel, Zurich.
  • 2017-2018 Iphigenia (set design & costume). Theatre. Text by Mohammad Al Attar, directed by Omar Abusadaa. Presented at Volksbühne, Berlin.
  • 2016-2017 While I Was Waiting (set design & costume). Theater. Text by Mohammad Al Attar, directed by Omar Abusadaa. Presented at Festival d’Avignon (IN), France/ Festival d’Automne, Paris/ Shizuoka Performing Arts Center, Japan.
  • 2014-2015 I Don’t Remember (set design). Theater. Text and Directed by Wael Ali. Presented at Tournesol Theater, Beirut/ Maxim Gorki Theater, Berlin/ Maison d’Europe Et d’Orient, Paris.
  • 2013 The Trojan Women (set design & costume). Theater. Directed by Omar Abusadaa. Presented at National Centre for Culture and Performing Arts, Jordan/ The European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva.
  • 2013 Intimacy (set design & costume). Theater. Text by Mohammad Al Attar, directed by Omar Abousaada. Produced by Theaterformen and A Shakal Alwan Festival. Performed in Beirut –Babal Theatre and Hannover Festival Theaterformen.
  • 2012 Could You Please Look Into the Camera? (set design & costume). Theater. Text by Mohammad Al Attar, directed by Omar Abusadaa. Presented at Dossan Art Center, Seoul, South Korea.
  • 2011 Opera: La Nosse de Figaro (set design). Opera. Directed by Christian Daumas, Conductor: Julius Kalmar and Missak Baghboudarian. Presented at Damascus Opera House, Syria.
  • 2022 “Sunday Morning”, a 6’07” video. Memorial to Beirut.
  • 2014 “Missing Sky”, a 2’27” video using stop-motion technique. Produced in partnership with Mohamad Omran. Supported by the British Council, Young Arab Theatre Fund, and Inediz production. Broadcasted on Arte.Concert.tv.
  • Sep-Dec/2020 “The Living Collections of the IMA | Shared Memories.” Photos and Lemand Donation. Presented at the Arab World Institute, Paris.
  • Jan-June/2019 “Where is the Home of My Friend?” The Home of the Arts, Center of Contemporary Art of Malakoff, Ile de France.
  • Sep-Oct/2019 “Three Witnesses of Syrian Contemporary Art.” Association Cluny-Chemin-d’Europe. Presented at the Victor Duruy room, Cluny, France.
  • Nov/2019 “From Flood to Flight: Myths, Songs and Other Stories.” Exhibition created by Elena Sorokina. Galerie Premier Regard, Paris.
  • Jan-Mar/2019 “Stateless: Views of Global Migration.” The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, USA.
  • Nov-Dec/2018 “Open Doors to Contemporary Syrian Art.” Galerie Premier Regard, Paris.
  • Feb/2015 “Syria Third Space.” Exhibition created by Alma Salem, the British Council, London.
  • June/2006 “Kesset Mawt Najeeb Brax.” In collaboration with the Grid Iron group, Beirut, Lebanon.
  • 2010 “Day of Photography” (Exhibition Design). French Cultural Center, Damascus.
  • 2009 “Minha” (Stage Design). Concert of Ziad Al Rahbani. Citadel of Damascus.
  • 2008 “Sandouk Al Kar” (Conception, Direction & Design of Street Performance), a project supported by the Damascus Festival, Capital of Arab Culture 2008.
  • 2011 “Al-Ashek,” Directed by Abd Allatif Aabd AlHamid, National Film Organization, Syria.
  • 2009 “Rodaj,” Directed by Nidal Al-Dibs, Orbit Channel Station, Syria.
  • 2008 “Khaberni Ya Teir” (Short Film). Directed by Sewar Zarkli. Judges award-winning at Damascus Film Festival, National Film Organization, Syria.
  • 2007 “Monologue” (Short Film). Directed by Jood Sa’eed. Silver Prize winner at the Damascus Film Festival, National Film Organization, Syria.
  • 2010-2006 Architect and set designer at Damascus Opera House, Syria.
  • 2002- 2006 Employee as an architect at the General Directorate of Archeology and Museums, Syria.
  • 2021-2022 Jury member for the final report: Learning & Evaluation Ettijahat 2030. Ettijahat- Independent Culture Organization.
  • 2011-2012 Creation of Art through the Use of Cement (Interactive Workshops for Children aged 6-12 years), in coordination with the Art&Work workshop, Damascus.
  • 2010 Trainer and Group Leader for the project “Interactive Theater in Syrian Public Schools,” funded by DROSOS, Switzerland, supervised by Rawafed, TRUST Foundation (The Syrian Trust For Development), Damascus.
  • 2007 Instructor at the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts, Damascus.
  • Arabic: mother tongue, French: Excellent, English: Good.
  • Making model.
  • Software (AutoCAD / Photoshop / Sketch up/ Microsoft Office / In-Design).
  • Construction, DIY.