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STORY: This is how Ma'moun al-Hallak

creates traditional Syrian pieces

Location: Damascus, Syria

He says he's among the few people

still using a traditional lathe

"This is my soul because I was raised with it. When I started working with it, my children were not there. This lathe and my children are also my soul. I enjoy working on heritage with it, I use my hands and legs, exert all of my energy, sweat and think about what I want to produce with it. It makes me happy, I enjoy it. Just like a painter.”

Hallak recreates artifacts used by his ancestors

like this traditional coffee grinder or mihbash

"All the pieces I create are related to heritage. For example, I make different sizes of Mihbash so that the visitor or citizen can buy a piece and learn about our tradition.”

"I used to have many clients. Now I do not have a shop and I only participate in exhibitions which I expense out of my pocket. I hardly meet the needs of my life. I just want to showcase our heritage.”