EMBASSY CULTURAL HOUSE
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George Kubresli

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George Kubresli
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Self-Portrait
George  Kubresli was raised in Damascus, the capital of Syria, which is one of the oldest inhabited capitals in the world. Prior to the war, life in the capital was generally civilized and progressive and its densely populated areas, influrenced George, especially with its ancient architecture that was juxtaposed and contrasted with modern architecture. Growing up in a family that was interested in science and literature also nurtured his relationship to art. He attended the “Adham Ismail Institute of Fine Arts” from 2002 to 2005, where in 2004, he met the famous Syrian sculptor, Fayez Nahri, who recognized his early talent. Nazri asked George to work in his studio until 2007, when he then pursued his academic studies at Damascus University in the Faculty of Fine Arts from 2007 to 2013, specializing in two dimensional painting and drawing.

The latter stage defined the  direction of his current and future artwork in oil paint and watercolour. Despite the siege of the war, which started in 2011, and its effect on his artwork as an undergraduate student and an artist, he was able to maintain his art activity. His artworks from that period were included in several group exhibitions organized in Switzerland, Lebanon and Syria. These exhibitions were  realized through the collaborative efforts of artists in spite of the restrictions imposed on them by the ongoing war. As the economic and political situation deteriorated and life became unbearable due to the war, death became a daily threat to their lives. In late 2013, he and his family made the hardest decision: to flee their land. This was made possible by the financial aid from relatives and friends in order to purchase the necessary tickets to relocate to Lebanon; followed by a move to Turkey, and finally to Canada.
 
George Kubresli recounts his journey to Canada: "In Turkey, we were hoping and searching to find “human smugglers,” who charge a fair amount, (which is lots of money for a family who has nothing), in exchange for facilitation, transportation, and our illegal entry across an international border, in this case Europe, by means of inflatable boats. The irony was that the "human smugglers" did not guarantee safe access to the European coasts, due to the large numbers of people who are doing this, but we arranged it out of desperation, while knowing that the rate of drowning and death was mounting. However, this was our only option to survive, which we were willing to resort to, until we received a phone call from my aunt informing us that she had contacted a priest who was able to sponsor our family through a church, to travel to Canada. But that would require a long and indefinite wait of over a year. During the waiting period, our hopes were diminished in the face of difficult circumstances. Discrimination and deprivation and minimal refugee rights in Turkey undermined our attempts at earning a living and securing a home. Hope would arrive at every contact from the priest, but no good news, until one day a call from him informed us of travel arrangements, and our final acceptance from the Canadian Embassy. Words fail to describe how grateful and elated we were at the news. Canada was warm despite its cold weather: through meeting people who were friendly and supportive, we were made to feel that Canada was a home away from home. My journey to Canada truly began when I was given the opportunity to continue my academic studies."

George Kubresli completed his Master’s Degree in Fine Art at Western University in 2020. His artwork is in included in the Embassy Cultural House's inaugural virtual exhibition Hiding in Plain Sight. His book titled, "The Hell of Boiling Red" was self-published in 2020 and is available through the artist. Please visit George's website for more information.

Works by George Kubresli

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Defending
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The Hell of a Boilling Red
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The Roads of Death
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War Portraits Rooted in Nature


EDITORIAL TEAM

ONLINE FOUNDER
Tariq Hassan Gordon

COFOUNDERS & CURATORIAL ADVISORS 
 
Jamelie Hassan 
& Ron Benner

ADVISORY CIRCLE
Samer Abdelnour, Marnie Fleming, Wyn Geleynse, Fern Helfand, S F Ho, Lorraine Klaasen, Judith Rodger, Ruth Skinner, Mary Lou and Dan Smoke,  and Lucas Stenning 

COORDINATING EDITORS
Tariq Hassan Gordon & 
Olivia Mossuto

WEB DESIGN & SOCIAL MEDIA 
Tariq Hassan Gordon, Ira Kazi, Olivia Mossuto, Niloufar Salimi,  JoAnna Weil 

VIRTUAL TOUR
Andreas Buchwaldt

PRINT PUBLICATIONS
Blessy Augustine, Shelley Kopp, 
Olivia Mossuto

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Andreas Buchwaldt, Blessy Augustine, Anahí González, Ira Kazi, ​Shelley Kopp, Ashar Mobeen, Niloufar Salimi,  Jenna Rose Sands, JoAnna Weil & Michelle Wilson. 

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OUR STORY
Artists Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner and jazz musician Eric Stach founded the Embassy Cultural House (1983-1990) located in the restaurant portion of the Embassy Hotel at 732 Dundas Street in East London. Other former members of the board were: Debrann Eastabrook, Henry Eastabrook, Sharron Forrest, Wyn Geleynse, Janice Gurney, Jean Hay (1929 - 2008), Doug Mitchell, Kim Moodie, Gerard Pas, Peter Rist, Wanda Sawicki, Jean Spence and Jennie White. In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy Cultural House was re-envisioned as a virtual artist-run space and website. 

This project is supported by the Ontario Arts Council and the London Arts Council through the City of London's Community Arts Investment Program.
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Thank you to our partners

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E M B A S S Y  C U L T U R A L  H O U S E . C A

​London, Ontario is on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Attawandaron and Huron-Wendat peoples, at the forks of Deshkan Ziibi (Antler River), an area subject to the Dish with One Spoon Wampum and other treaties.

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  • Home
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  • Background
    • Past Programming >
      • Exhibitions 1983-1990 >
        • Index of Curators
        • Index of Photographers
        • Index of Visual Artists
      • Film 1983-1990
      • Music 1983-1990 >
        • Index of Musicians
      • Performances 1983-1990 >
        • Index of Performers
    • Embassy Hotel History
  • About