Youth

Two Syrian brothers in Canada wow the world of robotics by making a “quantum-leap” into the future of Artificial Intelligence.

It was an idea that followed Fady Khaled from childhood: intelligent robots functioning among us as living organisms. His whole family provided encouragement, his mother and father continually helping him refine this dream to make it a reality. His father, an engineer himself, provided further guidance by giving Khaled the scientific background, alerting him to the control systems field, but also directing him to fiction, giving his imagination free reign to create what we would now call the impossible. Even his brother Sami joined in on the dream, offering his time and expertise to Khaled, and eventually switching universities so the brothers could work together on the one project that would change their lives.

Creative photography and graphic design combined.

Professional portraits are ideal for clients requiring quality and creative portrait photography for editorial needs, corporate publicity, annual reports and illustrative purposes or just for people who want a strong, honest and contemporary portrait of themselves that shows their true personality.
For over six-years, Hossen Soufan Studios has pushed the boundaries to create energetic, experimental and revolutionary photographs.
As a photographer, Soufan uses the latest technology from the click of the shutter to the inished piece.
Soufan works to fulill his life dream of popularizing and legitimizing the professional photography industry in Syria.
“Such a dream had almost come true once in 1982, when photography pioneers in Syria established the Photography Art Club.
” Among those Syrian pioneers were Sabbah Qabbani, Marwan Meslimani, Faisal al-Sitt, George Ashe and Salim Sabri.
All of them are now struggling for survival, and are in need of instant support and revitalization.
In the meantime, his efforts are dedicated to publishing ive photography books registering various aspects of Syrian art.
His irst publication will be under the title of “Waiting,” to be published on August 16, 2008, highlighting the idea of the non-studio portrait.
The second under the title “Theater” depicts some 45 Syrian plays performed between 2003 and 2008.
In “Dancing in the Dark,” inspired by the dance photography work of the renowned US photographer Lois Greenield, Soufan’s lens cropped the impossible positions of performers’ bodies, and the resulting images are startling.
In this illustrated book, with the frame of the photo creating unexpected entrances and exits, the viewer “starts to consider ‘on screen’ space in relation to the depicted space,” explains Soufan.
“One Hundred Portraits” depicts prominent outstanding Syrian igures, such as writers, artists, sculptors, and poets photographed in calculated studio conditions.
The inal book, “Damascus,” highlights the city’s glamour and unmatched monuments, as Soufan seeks Hossen Soufan, an example of how creative and ine young Syrians can the colors that beautify the daily life of the ancient city.
“The books are ive messages I extend to the world about my country, as a resort of peace, history and dreams,” says Soufan.
Soufan sees himself as both a graphic designer and a photographer.
For him, graphic design teaches how to properly use space and color, while photography explores the many possible ways to frame the shot.
Both are intended to share a balanced combination of the frame, the dream of life, and light, which are the three basic effective elements in each and every artist’s creative work.
There is a variance between the perception of the same view to different people, natures and worlds.
“I see the world as a big theater, where the transition of the roles and people along with the harmony of the elements produces a show throughout the course of our lives,” Soufan says, adding, “I see people changing as well as thoughts, and perspectives varying in a world where the spectator plays the actual role he sees from time to time.
This is the idea my pictures come from, which in essence captured the moments of the people living around me.
In those people, I see the actor, the director and the play-writer simultaneously.
” Expressing optimism over the situation of Syrian graphic design, he insisted, “we are in the third if not the second position in the Arab world in this pioneering genre of art, after Dubai and Lebanon.
” Soufan, who studied photography in Spain, is preparing for a PHD in photography from Boston University.
He has a master’s degree in “Theatre Body Language” from Boston’s Professional Photography in America (PPA) association.

What do young Syrians speak about at cafes in Damascus? Life? Work? Education? Or how difficult it is becoming to be a young man in Syria?

Sitting in any of the trendy cafés in Damascus amid the cacophony of animated discussions, cellular phone calls and the incredible amount of smoke from the eternal water pipes and cigarettes; one can only marvel at the unbounded energy of the younger generation in Syria. The habit of staying out late, eating, smoking and arguing loudly about a wide range of topics seems to have evolved into a deeply seated and daily ritual.

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 40, with local chapters in more than 5,000 communities located in more than 100 cities with more than 200,000 members. Founded in Mexico City on December 11, 1944, JCI provides young people with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, social responsibility, entrepreneurship and the fellowship necessary to create positive change. In 2004, five young and motivated Syrians founded JCI Syria under the umbrella of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Damascus was the first city to host the newly established organization. Then came Aleppo and Homs. Coming next is Latakia.