STORY: Overseas Palestinian safeguards cultural heritage through artworks
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 24, 2023
LENGTH: 0:01:54
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the artist working in his house 
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HANI AL-RAKOUI, Palestinian artist 
3. various of the artist working in his house 
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HANI AL-RAKOUI, Palestinian artist 
5. various of the artist's store

STORYLINE:

Hani al-Rakoui, a Palestinian refugee living in Syria, is on a unique journey to safeguard and promote the Palestinian heritage among the diaspora by creating artworks representing his homeland culture.

Inspired by his father, who started the work back in 2000 in the Yarmouk Camp, the largest camp for Palestinian refugees in the Syrian capital Damascus, the now 36-year-old information technology graduate has taken on the mission to connect Palestinians living abroad with their traditional culture.

At his house in the countryside of Damascus, al-Rakoui has established a workshop, where he creates various artworks, like carved maps of historic Palestine, and models of the religious Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem, among other ornaments related to the Palestinian culture.

He also works with designers and tailors to design various patterns and shapes for the famous Palestinian Keffiyeh scarfs and traditional Palestinian women's thobes and dresses that suit weddings and ceremonial events.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): HANI AL-RAKOUI, Palestinian artist
"Today, Palestinian refugees living outside Palestine, like us, wish to have a symbol or something related to Palestine that connects us, activates our memories, and teaches our children that this is Palestine. In the end, we are refugees, and we must return to our homeland."

Al-Rakoui, along with his father Muhammad, a famous painter who focuses his work on portraying the feelings of the Palestinian diaspora, has been taking the narratives beyond borders by showcasing their artworks at numerous international exhibitions.

He noted that the demand for their products increased during the ongoing crisis in Gaza due to people's sympathy with the situation.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HANI AL-RAKOUI, Palestinian artist
"The external demand for our artistic and heritage products increased during the recent events in Gaza due to people's sympathy with the situation."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)