The Art of Solidarity for a Shared Future
We have so much to learn from nature. In healthy ecosystems, nothing thrives in isolation. Life depends on the interconnectedness and delicate balance of diverse systems and parts.
We believe that solidarity is one of the ways we can move toward a healthier and more resilient shared future. At its core, solidarity means standing with others out of a deep recognition of our interconectedness. It is the understanding that our lives, our futures, and our well-being are bound up with one another. Whether we live in Damascus or Detroit, Aleppo or Amsterdam, the ripple effects of conflict, climate, displacement, and inequality do not respect borders.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day calls on us to strengthen global solidarity and empower local communities. At SARD, these ideas are not abstract, we’ve seen this kind of solidarity again and again. Individuals and organizations around the world have shown up for the people of Syria and Türkiye during some of their darkest moments. We want to take a moment to explore how four artists are using what they have to stand in solidarity with the people of Syria and Türkiye through our work.
Yousef Kekhia, a Berlin-based Syrian singer-songwriter brought his voice and heart to a benefit performance for SARD’s Lebanon Response during Israeli attacks on Lebanon in 2024. Not everyone knows this, but Yousef’s early days supporting displaced families through a small grassroots initiative in 2011, was the catalyst for SARD’s first volunteer activities in Aleppo. That sense of connection and acts of solidarity has always been central to his work. You can follow Yousef here.
Yousef Kekhia performing at the event "Beats for Lebanon" event in Paris, 2024.
Allegra Lockstadt, a Canadian visual artist based in Minnesota, USA, gave her time, her platform, and her belief in connection across borders. Her illustration, Our Shared Sky, printed on t-shirts for sale on our store, was inspired by the stars and our universal connection to them and to each other. “They remind us that we all share the same sky,” she wrote, “and that no single star or constellation can be owned by anyone.” You can follow Allegra here.
Every “Our Shared Sky” t-shirt by Allegra supports SARD’s life-saving emergency response.
Sedki Alimam, a visual designer and long-time friend of SARD, has been shaping how the world sees us since our earliest days. He established SARD’s first visual identity and website, helping give form to our mission when we were just starting out. Recently, he designed a limited-edition T-shirt, Reflecting Syria for purchase to support our work. His creative contributions have been part of our story for over a decade, and his continued support reminds us that solidarity does not have to be a one-time act, but an ongoing relationship. You can follow Sedki here.
Diala Brisly, the renowned Syrian artist and illustrator, has long used her art to advocate for children’s rights and the power of imagination in the face of war. At our Blooms for Syria event in Paris in 2024, Diala Brisly designed and painted a mural for the children of SARD’s emergency shelter, inviting attendees to contribute and transform it into a collective work of solidarity. The mural is a tangible expression of solidarity.
Diala constantly reminds us that art can be both a form of protest and a form of protection. Her illustrations speak to children, to survivors, and to all of us who are trying to build something better out of what has been broken. You can follow Diala here.
Diala Brisley painting a mural for children at the IACC during our "Blooms for Syria" event in Paris, 2024.
These artists show us that solidarity is not just a feeling, a belief, or a post shared on social media. Solidarity is action. It is using what we have to support one another in real, tangible ways. When we act on our interconnectedness, we strengthen the fabric of our shared future.
To all the people who have stood in solidarity with people in Syria and Turkey in solidarity, thank you. What is needed now is a more intentional effort to connect the people, networks, and resources that shape our collective, shared future.
The children at the IACC in front of Diala’s mural which is now in Syria.