Finding Our Roots in the Echoes of Silence
'Kalila wa Dimnah.' Kevork Mourad. Acrylic on linen, 63 x 103 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Leila Heller Gallery.
What does it mean to find our voice when the world has gone silent? For Syrian-Armenian artist Kevork Mourad, the answer lies not in speaking out loud, but in listening—to the whispers of stones, the rhythms of forgotten bells, and the timeless wisdom of stories and myths that have survived centuries of displacement.
In his solo exhibition, The Echoes of Silent Bells, on view at Dubai's Leila Heller Gallery, Mourad invites us on a profound journey into memory's emotional architecture and encourages viewers to reflect on the extraordinary harmony that once existed among cultures and faiths, and on the beauty they created by inspiring one another, embracing shared legacies and entangled roots.
"Through our ancestors, we inherit far more than genetics. We inherit culture, traditions, language, stories, values, and memories. Even the food we eat and the rituals we practice carry echoes of those who came before us," the artist told Ithraeyat.
Born in Qameshli, Syria, and shaped by Aleppo's rich cultural tapestry, the New York-based artist transforms personal and collective histories into layered visual narratives, where architecture dissolves into rhythmic lines and human figures emerge like ghosts from densely composed surfaces.
Central to this exploration are the mythical traditions that have long sustained displaced communities as they seek new roots and connections. Mourad draws inspiration from timeless tales such as Kalila wa Dimna and The Conference of the Birds—stories that, like his art, become vessels for carrying heritage forward and preserving endangered histories. These fables, with their animal protagonists and spiritual quests, mirror our own search for identity in a fractured world.
"For me, this work is a celebration of the knowledge passed down through generations and a reminder that ancient stories continue to offer profound guidance in understanding ourselves and the world around us," says Mourad.
'The Conference of the Birds.' Kevork Mourad. Acrylic on linen, 63 x 103 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Leila Heller Gallery.
"I was drawn to The Conference of the Birds' poetic journey because it speaks to a universal human experience: the endless search for meaning, fulfillment, and a place to belong," he shares.
"We often spend our lives wandering the world in pursuit of happiness or an ideal destination, believing that what we seek exists somewhere beyond ourselves. Yet the story reminds us that the deepest sense of peace and abundance cannot be found through distance or possessions. It already exists within us."
Through his art, he invites viewers to reflect on their own inner journeys and recognize that the quiet place we long for is not somewhere else — it is already within us.
'Memories of the Stones.' Kevork Mourad. 2019; 2026. Installation, Diptych; 600 x 280 x 70 cm (each piece). Courtesy of the artist and Leila Heller Gallery.
