Eshraq Alabrash
Stone carver
London, United Kingdom
Echoes of civilisations in stone
- Eshraq's pieces are mainly carved in limestone
- She blends Islamic and European architectural styles
- Stone carving brings her a strong sense of presence
Eshraq Alabrash specialises in stone carving and restoration, working primarily with limestone across small and large-scale projects. "I grew up between Syria and Lebanon. I was surrounded by the many architectural styles of the countless civilisations that met in these regions," she says. Eshraq was born in Homs, Syria, and her family later moved to Lebanon, where she originally studied business administration and worked as a teacher for six years. During Covid-19, she segued into a new career as a stone carver, attending an eight-month stone masonry and carving programme that brought together Syrian and Lebanese participants. In 2024, Eshraq came to the UK with a joint scholarship from the World Monuments Fund and the Al Tajir Trust to complete her BA in architectural stone carving at City & Guilds in London.
INTERVIEW
My work is a meeting point between art, history, architecture and restoration. I use traditional stone carving techniques to create pieces rooted in craftmanship and heritage.
Beyond shaping the stone, carving is about preserving knowledge and understanding it is a connecting point between past and present. I studied Islamic architectural styles in Lebanon, and I am learning European-derived designs in London. I try to blend these two styles together in my projects.
Training in Lebanon was hard for me. I endured a lot of pain and took a long time to get used to working with heavy hammers for long hours. I actually wanted to quit, but with time, I adapted. Today, I appreciate that I mostly work with my hands, as opposed to sitting behind a screen all day.
Making has a positive effect on me: it makes me feel calm and focused. I forget about time. I spend around ten hours at school every day, and when I come home, I still think about the design, what I have done today and what I will do tomorrow.
Eshraq Alabrash
Stone carver
London, United Kingdom
ADDRESS
Address upon request, London, United Kingdom
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
Arabic, English
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