19 Apr 2015
NewsFormer refugee’s award-winning art donated to sick children
Curator of the Arts West collective Joel Dickens said the aim was to connect artists from ‘out West’ with the wider Sydney audience.
“Originally formed as the Multicultural Art Club (MAC), the aim was to bring together and assist artists from migrant and refugee backgrounds from the local Fairfield region,” Mr Dickens said.
“We had a great response and soon MAC became an organised artists’ collaborative, fondly known as the ArtWesters.”
“Bassam is an incredibly talented artist and is also a man with a huge heart.”
Mr Dickens said that the ArtWesters had always spoken about ‘giving something back’ to the community.
“Being accepted into the Sydney Children’s Hospital art exhibition was a great way to both give back and also connect with a wider audience,” he said.
“Bassam is an incredibly talented artist and is also a man with a huge heart.
“He wants to help people and bring some joy to their lives and he is doing this very well through his painting.”
Bassam is also a budding entrepreneur participating in SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative. Earlier this month, he was announced as the winner of the Art in the Hills prize by former Archibald Prize winner Cherry Hood.
Bassam, a former refugee who came to Australia from Iraq, via Syria, has donated four paintings to the Hospital’s exhibition and feels a keen sense of connection to it.
“I was often ill as a child and I know what it feels like,” said Mr Jabar.
“I wanted to donate my art because even the smallest donation can make a difference to a sick child.”
Exhibition details:
Summer Art Exhibition, until May 22
Sydney Children’s Hospital
High St entrance, Randwick