Born in Syria, Yazigi studied at the Faculty of Fine
Arts, Damascus University, gaining a Bachelor’s
degree in fine arts, while specialising in sculpture.
The human form and faces, in particular, lie at the
heart of Yazigi’s instantlyrecognisable paintings,
ceramic relief carvings and sculptures, with people
often depicted as underdeveloped creatures or
half-human beasts.
“The Babylonians were depicting the human form
6000 years ago and I, along with others, am simply
continuing what they began,” he notes. “I believe it
represents the most important thing on this earth.”
While the war and regional unrest are inevitably
key influences, Yazigi also draws on aspects of
everyday life in his art, from the mundane to the
humorous. “I aim to capture people’s emotions and
expressions, be it happiness or sadness,” he says.
The discovery of clay marked a milestone in
Yazigi’s development as a multimedia artist.
“I found clay to be warm, passionate and powerful,
capable of capturing my ideas and expressing what
was in my heart,” he says.
“It was the medium I found best suited to
transferring what was in my head to my hand.”
From experimenting on slabs of clay, Yazigi quickly
moved to creating threedimensional pieces. He is
also known for firing first-relief sculptures, saying
the process allows him to maintain continuity and
ensure honesty in his work.
“I don’t want to hide the feelings with a glaze,
so I keep it as it is,” he explains.
“I also like the way that the light comes through and
highlights the texture of the clay.
The entire process helps with the next step,
making me feel enthusiastic.”