Hamad Yahya Jasim, a 19-year-old from Syria’s Deir el-Zour province, is carrying on the region’s traditional pottery craft, which he learned from his father as a child, helping pass the area’s cultural heritage on to future generations.
Jasim was introduced to pottery at the age of 7 in his father’s workshop. Over the years, he watched his father work and gradually learned the intricacies of the craft.
As his interest in pottery grew, Jasim began producing items that reflect the identity of the region.
The young artisan said shaping clay with his hands has turned into a passion, and he has expanded his work by selling his products in several provinces across Syria.
Jasim’s initiative is among the first projects dedicated to pottery in eastern Deir el-Zour.
Working alongside his father at their workshop in the Deir el-Zour countryside, Jasim spoke to Anadolu Agency (AA) about his passion for pottery and his projects.
He said that when pottery was not being produced in the region, products needed by local residents were brought in from other parts of Syria, particularly Aleppo.
His father began production in 2013 after obtaining the necessary equipment, Jasim said, adding that he became interested in the craft during that period.
He worked patiently for around three to four years to learn the craft, he said, adding that pottery eventually became a passion for him.
Jasim said some products were difficult for him to make when he first began working as a child, but he was able to create larger pieces as he gained experience.
“Over time, we began producing things that once seemed very difficult for us. Actually, nothing is impossible. As long as you have an idea and a working mind,” the young artisan said.
Jasim said they do not focus on producing a single type of item in the workshop, adding that pottery allows them to create products for different purposes.
Jasim said the feelings he experiences while shaping clay by hand are difficult to understand unless one practices the craft himself, describing working in the workshop as a source of “peace.”
“The happiness this craft brings is indescribable. Only someone who does this work can feel this happiness. I cannot explain it to you. When you sit down and start working, there is a beautiful feeling in calmly doing your own work when there is no one around you,” he said.
Jasim said they send their products to different parts of Syria, particularly Deir el-Zour and also have customers in the countryside of Raqqa and Hasakah.
The workshop meets a significant part of the region’s demand for pottery, he said.
“In the past, people in Deir el-Zour used to bring these products from Aleppo or elsewhere. Now they buy them here. It is closer and better for them to obtain them from their own city,” Jasim said.
