ISSA Oman Symposium Before the War

In January 2026, the 13th Suhar International Sculpture Symposium, also known as the ISSA Oman Station,

 was held, continuing an ongoing journey of artistic creation and cultural exchange. This year's art symposium 

further solidified its position as a vibrant creative platform, attracting artists from around the world.

International Participation and Artistic Diversity

The 13th art symposium welcomed 12 sculptors from the Sultanate of Oman, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Iran, 

Morocco, Jordan, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They created outdoor sculptures, reaching heights of up 

to two meters, adding significant new components to the “Outdoor Museum of Contemporary Sculpture,” 

established by Suhar, which serves as a permanent space for showcasing sculptural achievements in a natural

 setting.

This year also marked the first participation of international ceramic artists from Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain,

 Iran, and Kuwait, indicating a qualitative expansion of the event. These artists created ceramic sculptures 

in a specialized technical program covering forming techniques, firing stages, and various pottery skills. 

The highlight of the event was a Raku celebration, adding dynamic visual and ritual dimensions, 

demonstrating the fusion of sculpture and ceramics within a unified creative context.

In addition to practical projects, a dedicated academic symposium was organized, inviting critics and 

researchers to participate. They submitted academic papers that combined the creative experiences of 

participating artists with in-depth theoretical interpretations, thus strengthening the dialogue between

 creative practice and critical discourse.

The art symposium included rich tourism visits and cultural folklore evenings, allowing participants to explore

 Oman’s cultural heritage and facilitating meaningful interpersonal exchanges between artists and the 

public. This further confirmed the symposium's status as a comprehensive cultural event, emphasizing

 its significance not only in artistic creation but also in building bridges for civilizational dialogue.

The art symposium was inaugurated under the sponsorship of His Excellency Mohsin bin Hamad Al 

Hadhrami, Deputy Minister of Energy and Minerals, with attendees including His Excellency Sheikh 

Mohammed bin Suleiman Al Kindi, Governor of North Batinah, His Excellency Mahmoud bin Abdullah 

Al Awaini, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Sheikh Saif bin Hamoud Al Ghaisi, Wali of 

Buraimi, as well as representatives from government and private institutions and visual arts enthusiasts. 

His Excellency Sheikh Shat bin Mohammed Al Heni, Wali of Suhar, attended the closing ceremony.

The event attracted numerous individuals from the cultural and artistic community, reflecting its success 

in organization and art, and further confirming the symposium's role as an international platform, 

continuously promoting Oman as a center for artistic dialogue and contemporary creation.

Participants Sculptors

• Oman: Hussein Al Sheikh, Abdullah Al Kalbani, Nasser Al Ghaithi, Abdulkarim Al Rawahi

• Jordan: Dr. Fuad Al-Khasawneh

• Saudi Arabia: Ali Shuwail

• Switzerland: Bertha Shortiss

• Iran: Majid Haghighi, Faezeh Puneh

• Morocco: Abdelhai Adayday

• Uzbekistan: Abdugofor Isonaliev

Ceramic Artists

• Oman: Hatem Al Shuaili, Dr. Badr Al Maamari, Yaseen Al Saifi

• Lebanon: Nasser Al Halabi

• Iraq: Maher Al Samarrai, Dr. Shinyar Abdullah

• Kuwait: Ali Al Awad

• Iran: Shima Amia

• Bahrain: Mahdi Al Banna

Academic Seminar – Speakers

• Dr. Ali Al Jabri (Oman) – Conference Chair

• Dr. Ayman Al Samri (Egypt)

• Dr. Badr Al Maamari (Oman)

• Dr. Fuad Al-Khasawneh (Jordan)

• Dr. Ali Al Jahouri (Oman)

Contributed by: ISSA Oman Committee, Ali Al Jabri

Editor-in-Chief: Liu Qin

English Editor: Sun Ya’nan

Legal Advisor: Tao Ran’ting