Issa Touma
Issa Touma (born 16 July 1962 in Tartus, Syria) is a self-taught photographer based in Aleppo. His work can be found in several international collections, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
In 1992 he opened the Black and White Gallery, the first exhibition space dedicated to photography in the Middle East.
After its closure in 1996, he founded Le Pont, an independent organisation and gallery that promotes freedom of expression and stimulates the local art scene through international events: the International Photo Festival (first held in 1997) and the International Women's Art Festival (launched in 1999.
In 2012, shortly after the outbreak of the Syrian civil
war, Le Pont initiated Art Camp-
-ing for Syrian refugees and citizens of Aleppo. This unique citizens of Aleppo. This unique collaborative project, whose participants come from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, attempts to foster resistance to political and religious radicalism through artistic interventions and cultural dialogue.
“Has the war put an end to culture? Of course not,” Touma declares. “Young artists have stayed active, forming a society that has united to save as much of our civil life as it can. (…) Our gallery’s message is this: Art is peace.“