Syrian artists showcase One Health through art and music

The Aesthetics of One Health project, embedded within the One Health FIELD Network, brought together visual and musical creations, a blend of paintings and compositions that celebrate traditional Syrian agricultural heritage and the intergenerational resilience of refugee communities. Afnan El-Gayar, from the Roslin Institute, shares her insights on the project.

The Aesthetics of One Health  

Conflicts and global crises often disrupt the informal ways in which communities pass down cultural and agricultural knowledge through generation. When these networks are broken, there's a risk that valuable expertise disappears entirely. In such situations, traditional knowledge and local insights can often be overlooked or left out. The project goal was to discuss traditional Syrian agricultural practices and the transmission of knowledge across generations. 

This creative initiative, led by Professor Lisa Boden from 2022-2023 and funded by the UKRI ODA Impact & Development Fund, united Syrian artists from Douzan Art and Culture with Syrian women from the Syrian Women's Association. The group created visual artwork and musical compositions through the integration of traditional knowledge, artistic expression, and community collaboration. The project outcomes highlighted how creativity and community can support resilience and cultural continuity.  

“This was very emotional to me. I left Syria in 2015, I was 21 years old. So, I don’t really have any connections to the practices you have just shown us. I thought that after settling down that I would practice these in my house as well but one forgets with time. When I saw these videos and pictures, I felt that my “foreignness” has been broken.” 

Artist participant

As part of Refugee Week 2025, a vibrant showcase of the Aesthetics of One Health art and music will be displayed in the Chrystal Macmillan Building Foyer, with a special event on Tuesday 17 June to hear directly from those who shaped the project. 

Facing the challenges of forced displacement  

Rooted in long-term ethnographic research by the One Health FIELD Network, the project focused on displaced populations and food systems. The Syrian women involved were based in Turkey, facing the challenges of forced displacement while preserving cultural traditions. They are also featured in the network’s 2023 documentary.

Watch the network's 2023 documentary

Initially planned as an in-person collaboration, the project adapted to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February 2023 by shifting to a remote format. Four virtual sessions via Zoom connected artists with the women, exploring themes and intergenerational knowledge. Inspired by personal memories of pre-conflict Syria, artists created paintings and musical compositions. 

Insights from Afnan El-Gayar 

Afnan El-Gayar is a Core Scientist in Quantitative Epidemiology at The Roslin Institute. She joined the One Health FIELD Network in March 2024, after the project had concluded. She recognised the impact and the potential of the project and its creative outcomes. 

Although I was not involved in the initial stages, encountering the project’s artistic outputs and recorded conversations deeply moved me. I felt an emotional connection despite not having lived these experiences, reaffirming my belief in art’s power to bridge distances.

Afnan El-Gayar

Afnan reflected on the empowering connection the experience had given the artists. 

The project transcended conventional research methods by using storytelling, music, and visual art to reclaim cultural identity and highlight narratives often overlooked, especially those of Syrian women and the knowledge they carry. Rather than feeling alienated, participants expressed pride in their heritage. Many spoke of the significance of having their experiences acknowledged and how reconnecting with their roots through art felt empowering. As an academic, witnessing complex emotions and insights communicated through art was refreshing.

Afnan El-Gayar

Connecting across generations 

The Aesthetics of One Health project illustrates the power of art to connect communities across distances and generations. By honouring Syrian heritage and intergenerational knowledge through creative expression, this initiative not only showcased the resilience of displaced communities but also emphasised the importance of preserving cultural identity.  

Event: Art Exhibition: The Aesthetics of One Health 

When: Tuesday 17 June 2025, 3 pm 

Where: Chrystal Macmillan Building Foyer, The University of Edinburgh 

 A showcase of Syrian agricultural heritage through art and music and an immersive experience to hear directly from those who shaped this journey: 

  • Rami Magharbeh, Syrian artist affiliated with Douzan Art and Culture 
  • Dr Ann-Christin Zuntz, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Social and Political Science 
  • Professor Lisa Boden, Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies 

*This story is part of our 2025 Refugee Week series celebrating the resilience, creativity, and contributions of displaced people within the University of Edinburgh community.* 

Publication date