Damaged sculptures at Aleppo University spark debate
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A group of sculptures in the courtyard of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Aleppo University were damaged on Monday, sparking widespread public discussion about the incident.
Images shared by activists on social media showed debris of broken sculptures scattered in the open courtyard of the Faculty of Fine Arts. The incident provoked controversy, with some attributing the destruction to governmental entities, while others pointed to individuals with extremist backgrounds, fueling a heated debate about the circumstances.
The incident drew sharp reactions online, ranging from anger to ridicule, with calls for accountability and the protection of university grounds and artistic works.
Aleppo University responded in an official statement, clarifying that the damaged sculptures were not established artworks, but rather old student projects that had deteriorated over years due to exposure to weather conditions.
The statement explained: “What happened was not the destruction of existing artworks, but the removal of old student projects that had been in place for many years and suffered damage due to environmental factors.” The university added that “these materials were no longer suitable for display and were removed as part of routine maintenance and cleaning of the campus.”
The statement aimed to address public concern and clarify the situation, stressing that the removal was part of ongoing preservation efforts within the university campus.