The visual arts community bade farewell yesterday evening to Syrian sculptor Boutros Romhein, who passed away in Italy after a creative career spanning decades, during which he was able to weave a unique dialogue between the materials of marble and wood, transforming silent rock into a human language that transcends cultures and borders.
The late artist, who was the older brother of renowned sculptor Lutfi Romhein, was born in 1949 in the town of Al-Qurayya in As-Suwayda governorate. His passion for sculpture emerged early in 1960, when he began his journey through self-learning and constant experimentation, with the hobby quickly evolving into a life project and full-time dedication. In 1975, he traveled to Italy to delve into its rich heritage in the field of marble arts, settling there in 1983, and culminating this experience by graduating in 1987 from the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, one of the world's most prominent hubs for marble and its arts.
His first exhibitions in Syria took place between 1975 and 1980, and his participation later expanded to include exhibitions and festivals in Italy, France, and various European cities and capitals, where he received prestigious awards for his wood and marble sculptures throughout his career. He did not limit himself to individual sculpting; rather, he founded the (Acqu'Arto) art center in Italy, which became a significant milestone in his life, dedicated to teaching marble sculpture and hosting artists from all over the world to foster artistic communication and cultural exchange.
Boutros Romhein has departed, leaving behind a creative legacy through which he proved that sincere art is always capable of being a bridge that transcends borders and cultures.
